JADE REFLECTIONS

Art historian Crisci discusses the development of a prized artform during China’s ancient past.

While the ancient Mediterranean world was in the midst of its late Bronze Age collapse, China was enjoying a period of cultural proliferation under the rule of the Western Zhou. Among the greatest legacies of the era is its impressive jade work, which provides a unique look into China’s remote past; as Crisci asserts in in an introduction, one can, through empirical observation of these pieces, “gain profound insights into the foundational elements of Chinese culture and the evolution of its beliefs and values over time.” In this book, the author decodes more than 40 jade artifacts, from ceremonial vessels that denoted the owner’s social rank to fish and pig shaped funerary ornaments carved for the tombs of Zhou nobility. After providing a brief overview of Zhou contributions to Chinese art and philosophy—including the development of the so-called “Mandate of Heaven,” which new rulers used to claim legitimacy into the modern period—Crisci moves on to the artifacts themselves, supplementing her commentary with the inclusion of full-color photographs of the objects in question. The highlights are surely the ornate wine vessels, which were carved to look like conjoined sheep, humanoid deities, and horned dragons. Crisci’s prose is as smooth as the jade itself, and she demonstrates a deep knowledge of her subject, such as when she breaks down the shifting meaning of owls during the Han dynasty: “No longer revered as protective deities, owls were demonized and depicted as malevolent creatures. This change in perception led to widespread persecution of owls, with the imperial court even encouraging their extermination and consumption.” This is perhaps a book best suited to jade specialists, who will be most interested to learn about how, for instance, the depiction of sheep horns changed from the Shang period to the early Zhou. However, anyone with an appreciation for fine craftsmanship is sure to enjoy these works.

An authoritative and informative guide to jade from the Western Zhou era.