The Central Plains, with its vast fertile land, not only nurtured brilliant Chinese civilization but also concealed countless treasures. In this ancient and mystical land, there is a type of jade that, unlike the gentle introversion of Hetian jade or the dazzling brilliance of jadeite, stands out in the jade family with its unique colorfulness and profound historical heritage. It is Dushan Jade.
Dushan Jade, named after Dushan Mountain in Nanyang City, Henan Province, is also known as 'Nanyang Jade' or 'Duyu'. Its mining history is incredibly long, dating back to the Neolithic Age, more than seven thousand years ago. Archaeologists have discovered jade artifacts in the Yangshao Culture sites in Henan, many of which have been identified as Dushan Jade. This undoubtedly proves Dushan Jade's significant status as one of the earliest jade types developed and utilized in China. Even more astonishing is that during the Yellow Emperor's era, more than five thousand years ago, Dushan Jade was revered as the 'beautiful stone of heaven' and served as an important medium for sacrificing to heaven and earth and communicating with deities. Historical records state that 'the Yellow Emperor collected copper from Shou Mountain and cast tripods under Jing Mountain,' and Dushan is one of the alternative names for 'Jing Mountain' in ancient texts. This not only imbues Dushan Jade with sacred colors but also closely links it to the ancestral culture of the Chinese nation.
The charm of Dushan Jade lies, first and foremost, in its rich and varied colors. It combines various colors such as green, white, yellow, purple, red, black, and often features multiple colors in one stone, intertwined to form unique natural paintings. This 'colorful' characteristic provides Dushan Jade with immense room for artistic expression in carving. Skilled jade carving masters often cleverly conceive and carve lifelike and profound artistic masterpieces based on the natural color distribution of the jade material. For example, one of the representative works of Nanyang Dushan Jade carving, 'The Great Wall,' utilizes the multi-color coexistence of Dushan Jade to vividly depict elements such as mountains, city walls, and clouds, which is breathtaking. This 'clever carving of contrasting colors' technique is one of the most distinctive expressions of Dushan Jade culture and an important reason why Nanyang jade carving is renowned both at home and abroad.
The cultural significance of Dushan Jade extends far beyond its material and craftsmanship. It carries the richness and profound connotations of Central Plains culture. Throughout the long river of history, Dushan Jade was not only a ritual object for kings and nobles to display their status, a plaything for literati to express their sentiments, but also a token for common people to pray for blessings and good fortune. During the Western Han Dynasty, Dushan Jade was extensively used to make jade suits, jade bi discs, jade belt hooks, and other burial objects, especially the Dushan Jade artifacts unearthed in the Nanyang area from the Han Dynasty, which are exquisitely crafted and uniquely shaped, fully demonstrating the pinnacle of Han Dynasty Dushan Jade carving art. These unearthed cultural relics are not only valuable materials for studying ancient jade carving techniques but also physical evidence of the funeral culture and aesthetic tastes of the Chinese nation.
In modern times, Dushan Jade culture continues to thrive. Nanyang, as the origin and main processing base of Dushan Jade, has its Dushan Jade carving techniques listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Generations of jade carving artists have passed down their skills, constantly innovating on the basis of tradition, pushing the artistic value and cultural connotations of Dushan Jade to new heights. Today, Dushan Jade is not only a hot item in the collecting world but also increasingly integrated into modern life, becoming ornaments,摆件 (decorative pieces), and even fashion accessories. Its unique charm is attracting more and more people to understand, appreciate, and inherit this millennium green soul from the heartland of the Central Plains.
Dushan Jade, this precious jade that gathers the spiritual essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon, writes a legendary chapter of Chinese jade culture with its colorfulness, profound history, and unique cultural connotations. It is not merely a mineral but also a carrier of the Chinese nation's aesthetic taste, philosophical thought, and spiritual beliefs. When we touch Dushan Jade, what we feel is not only the warmth of the jade but also a cultural pulse that transcends time and the powerful, unceasing vitality of Chinese civilization.