gems, jade, amphibole jade, nephrite, China, archaic jade

Umehara brings together a series of archaeological studies of ancient Japanese tama (beads and other stone ornaments), documenting the remarkable diversity of forms found in Japan. The volume treats such objects as magatama and other personal ornaments, including animal-, bird-, fish-, and cicada-shaped beads, large prehistoric beads, tubular objects, and related artifacts, with extensive illustrations and discussion of their forms, materials, chronology, and archaeological contexts. Several chapters reconsider particular classes of ornaments and incorporate newly discovered examples, while others examine materials such as glass alongside stone tama. The work is an important synthesis of Umehara’s long research into Japanese ancient ornaments and provides substantial comparative material for the study of their typology, manufacture, and cultural significance.