The intelligence of modern human brain is unpredictable, and we all know that this result is also formed by the long evolutionary process of apes.

Just as Hetian jade culture has formed a very perfect system today, what kind of development course did it go through at the beginning? Let's find out.

Neolithic Age

According to archaeological data, we can know that jade has existed in all aspects of people's lives in the Neolithic Age.

However, after careful appreciation, we can find that the jade unearthed in archaeological excavations today is not of high artistic value, which may be due to the lack of experience in making jade at that time, so the shape of jade is very simple.

In addition, the technology and tools for carving jade articles are limited, so most of the jade articles themselves have no ornamentation.

Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties

During this period, jade became a symbol of ritual and political status, and its shape and ornamentation gradually enriched.

Because the development of jade has gone through a period of time, the manufacturing technology of jade has been improved.

Coupled with the development of culture, people's artistic appreciation ability has also been greatly improved, so they have a deeper understanding of how to beautify jade itself.

For example, jade articles in Shang and Zhou dynasties are often carved with decorative patterns, such as dragon patterns, phoenix patterns and moire patterns.

the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, jade has been regarded as the carrier of Confucian ideological and cultural communication.

There are more than 30 kinds of jade in this period, such as jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade, jade and so on.

According to this, it can be clearly felt that the jade production in this period is more exquisite and delicate, and the grasp of types is becoming more and more skilled.

It can be seen that during this period, both the shape of jade and its cultural value have been further enriched.

Han and Wei dynasties

Generally speaking, the jade articles in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties are far inferior to those in Han Dynasty.

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Chinese jade culture was in a transitional period from classical to medieval. During this period, jade was mainly used for decoration and practical appreciation, and jade began to move towards the people. Its carving style is characterized by simplicity, simplified use and simple decoration.

Tang and song dynasties

As far as the development history of jade in China is concerned, the jade in Tang and Song Dynasties opened a new chapter.

Since the Tang Dynasty, with the change of historical background and the entry of culture and art in Central Asia and West Asia into the Central Plains, jade gradually faded from its mysterious and sacred aura and entered the homes of ordinary people.

In the Song Dynasty, due to the rapid development of urban economy and the rise of the civil class, the process of commercialization and secularization of jade was accelerating.

Since the Tang Dynasty, Hetian jade has been used for jade selection.

The jade patterns in this period have been relatively complete, and the carved lines are also very delicate and distinct.

Since the Tang dynasty, there have been flower patterns on jade articles, and the carved flowers are similar to the real thing.

the Yuan Dynasty

Jade in Yuan Dynasty was developed on the basis of inheriting the jade in Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties, and the mutual infiltration of various ethnic cultures brought great vitality to its development.

The jade materials in Yuan Dynasty are mainly Hetian jade and blue white jade, and the typical processing technology is multi-layer hollowing.

Multi-layer hollowing technology reached its acme in Yuan Dynasty. In addition to carving double-layer patterns on the plane, you can also carve multi-layers on the jade material, with five or six layers of flowers, each with distinct layers and strong perspective effect.

Ming and Qing dynasties

Jade articles in Ming and Qing dynasties have various shapes.

Especially in the Qing Dynasty, jade workers were good at drawing lessons from the achievements of painting, sculpture and arts and crafts, integrating many traditional works such as yin line, yang line, hollowing out, pretty color and artistic styles of past dynasties, and absorbing the influence of foreign art, combining and adapting them to create and develop a jade processing technology with strong craftsmanship and decoration, which has distinct characteristics of the times and high artistic attainments.

Modern jadeware

White jade seed mountain carving-lotus picking song

Since the reform and opening up, the jade carving industry has gradually grown.

With the development and progress of technology and the great improvement of Hetian jade carving skills, jade sculptors can be free and unrestrained, and perfectly show imaginary things in their works.

The value of Hetian jade itself, coupled with the artistic value of the craft, has shown considerable collection value in today's society.