Among the dazzling stars of Chinese jade culture, Yangzhou jade carving undoubtedly shines as a brilliant pearl. It is not merely a technique but an artistic expression imbued with the spiritual elegance of the Jiangnan water towns and the refined taste of literati, embodying the Chinese nation's ultimate pursuit of beauty and profound understanding of nature. When Yangzhou jade carving is mentioned, people often think of its exquisite "Yangzhou Gong" (Yangzhou craftsmanship), which is backed by millennia of accumulation and generations of inherited ingenuity.
The history of Yangzhou jade carving can be traced back to the distant Han Dynasty. Jade artifacts unearthed in 1980 at Laohudun, Hanjiang, Yangzhou, such as jade bi discs and belt hooks, with their exquisite craftsmanship and unique style, already showed the nascent form of Yangzhou jade carving. However, it was during the Tang and Song Dynasties that Yangzhou jade carving truly rose to prominence. At that time, Yangzhou, as a hub for north-south canal transportation and an important commercial metropolis, gathered jade materials and skilled artisans from all over the country. The Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's line, "Ten miles of Yangzhou road in the spring breeze, all the pearl curtains rolled up are incomparable," although not directly describing jade carving, indirectly reflects Yangzhou's prosperity and its pursuit of exquisite objects. In the Song Dynasty, Yangzhou jade carving, while inheriting the majestic grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, incorporated the artistic conception of literati painting, emphasizing smooth lines and elegant forms.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties marked the golden age of Yangzhou jade carving, reaching an unprecedented peak, especially during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong had a particular fondness for jade ware and repeatedly ordered Xinjiang Hetian jade to be continuously transported to Yangzhou, commissioning Yangzhou jade artisans to create a large number of imperial jade objects. Among these, the most famous is undoubtedly the "Jade Mountain of Dayu Controlling the Waters." This colossal jade carving, standing 224 cm high, 96 cm wide, and weighing 5 tons, took six years to complete by Yangzhou jade artisans. Its magnificent scale and intricate details earned it the title of "King of Jade Carvings." It not only demonstrated the superb "carving according to material" ability of Yangzhou jade artisans but also reflected their profound understanding of the artistic conception of landscape painting and their precise grasp of historical allusions. At that time, Yangzhou jade carving had formed five major categories: "mountain carving," "furnace and vessel carving," "flowers and birds," "figures," and "antique imitation," each with its unique characteristics and exquisite techniques.
The reason why "Yangzhou Gong" could dominate the world lies in its unique craftsmanship and aesthetic pursuit. First is "carving according to material"; Yangzhou jade artisans are skilled at cleverly conceiving designs based on the natural shape, color, and texture of the jade material, turning flaws into beauty, making the artwork and the jade material a seamless whole. Second is "clever use of color," utilizing the natural colors of the jade to carve lifelike images, such as using the red of the jade skin to carve flowers and the white of the jade flesh to carve petals, creating vivid color contrasts and rich artistic appeal. Furthermore, there is the "thin-walled technique," where jade is refined to be as thin as a cicada's wing, transparent enough to transmit light, which not only tests the artisan's patience and skill but also endows the work with a light and translucent beauty. In addition, Yangzhou jade carving is adept at employing various techniques such as relief carving, openwork carving, round carving, and透雕 (pierced carving), integrating poetic imagery into a small space, making the works possess both the grandeur of northern jade carving and the elegance of southern jade carving.
However, the inheritance of Yangzhou jade carving has not been smooth sailing. In modern times, frequent wars, disrupted jade material sources, and challenges in skill transmission posed difficulties. But after the founding of New China, Yangzhou jade carving was reborn. The state's emphasis on traditional crafts led to the restoration of the Yangzhou Jade Carving Factory, where a group of old artists resumed their carving tools and trained a new generation of successors. Today, Yangzhou jade carving has been inscribed on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and a new generation of young jade carvers, while inheriting traditions, are incorporating modern aesthetics to create works with a more contemporary feel. They are not only striving for excellence in technique but also continuously exploring cultural connotations, allowing this ancient art of Yangzhou jade carving to radiate new vitality.
From its genesis in the Han Dynasty to its heyday in the Qing Dynasty, and to its innovative development today, the millennium journey of Yangzhou jade carving is a living history of Chinese jade culture. With its exquisite techniques, profound cultural heritage, and unique artistic charm, it showcases the Chinese nation's persistent pursuit of beauty and adherence to the spirit of craftsmanship. Every piece of Yangzhou jade carving embodies the painstaking efforts and wisdom of the jade artisans, telling stories of jade and humanity, and carrying our infinite aspirations for the future development of traditional culture.