Hey sisters! 👋 It's your old friend here, a 'jade veteran' who's been immersed in the world of jade for over a decade! Today, I want to talk about the softest yet most resilient part of my heart – the inheritance of jade culture. This isn't just a simple popular science article, but a sharing of my personal experiences and insights from years of walking the path of intangible cultural heritage jade carving. I hope it can lead you into a deeper, warmer world of jade. 💖

✨ From a Rough Stone to a Work of Art: What is the Charm of Inheritance?

I still remember my first encounter with intangible cultural heritage jade carving in an old alley in Suzhou. At that time, I was deeply attracted by a piece of Hetian jade seed material in the hands of an old craftsman. That seed material, uncarved, was unpretentious, but the old craftsman said that it contained 'mountains and rivers'. I didn't understand then, until I witnessed him using traditional tools, knife by knife, to 'awaken' the life of the jade. That transformation from nothing to something, from rough stone to exquisite product, made me truly feel the charm of jade culture for the first time. This is not just the inheritance of skill, but also the craftsman's reverence for nature, pursuit of beauty, and respect for history.

💡 Intangible Cultural Heritage Jade Carving is More Than Just an 'Old Craft'!

Many people might think that intangible cultural heritage is outdated, but it's not! Take Yangzhou jade carving, a national intangible cultural heritage, for example. It is famous for its five major categories: 'furnace and bottle vessels, mountain carving, flowers, figures, and animals', among which 'mountain carving' is unique in the world. Did you know? A large mountain carving work often takes several years or even more than ten years from material selection, design, carving to polishing! I once participated in a restoration project of a large 'mountain carving' in Yangzhou jade carving, which was a Qing Dynasty 'Yu the Great Taming the Flood' jade mountain, nearly 2 meters high and weighing several tons. To restore it, we consulted a large number of ancient books, studied the carving techniques and tools of that time, and even consulted several elderly artists over 80 years old. The whole process was like a cross-temporal dialogue, making me deeply realize that intangible cultural heritage jade carving is not only a skill but also a carrier of history and a microcosm of culture.

🔍 The Dilemma and Hope of Inheritance: Our Responsibility!

Of course, the path of inheritance is not smooth. With the impact of modern industry, many traditional jade carving techniques face the risk of being lost. The younger generation is daunted by this 'slow and meticulous' profession, and the older generation of craftsmen are gradually fading away. I remember once in Nanyang, Henan, an 80-year-old Dushan jade carving artist told me that his biggest worry was that no one would learn his 'unique skill'. At that moment, I felt a heavy responsibility. Therefore, what I have been trying to do is to use various platforms, such as Xiaohongshu, to let more people understand jade culture, fall in love with jade art, and even devote themselves to the inheritance of jade carving.

✨ How to Become a 'Guardian' of Jade Culture?

  • Observe and Learn More: Visit museums and jade carving exhibitions to understand the styles and historical backgrounds of different schools of jade carving. For example, you can visit the Palace Museum to see those ingenious Qing Dynasty jade artifacts, or go to the Suzhou Museum to experience the exquisite craftsmanship of Suzhou jade carving.

  • Distinguish Authenticity: Learn some basic jade identification knowledge to avoid buying fake or inferior products. I have shared some small tips on identifying Hetian jade and emerald before, you can check my notes! 😉

  • Support Intangible Cultural Heritage: Buying works from intangible cultural heritage inheritors is the greatest support for them. Every hand-carved jade piece embodies the craftsman's painstaking efforts and time; they are not just commodities, but works of art and culture.

  • Share and Spread: Like me, share what you see, hear, think, and feel, so that more people pay attention to jade culture and let this warm beauty be passed down from generation to generation.


Jade carries the aesthetic taste and philosophical thought of the Chinese nation. It is not just an ornament, but also a symbol of our national spirit. I hope that through my sharing, you can have a deeper understanding and love for jade culture. Let's work together to become inheritors and guardians of jade culture! 💪

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