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

This catalogue presents jade artifacts associated with the Jinsha archaeological site in Chengdu, Sichuan, an important center of the ancient Shu culture. It surveys the forms, materials, manufacture, and archaeological contexts of jade objects recovered at Jinsha, including ritual implements and ornaments, and considers their relationship to religious practices and elite society. Particular attention is given to the craftsmanship and distinctive forms of the Jinsha jades, while comparisons with material from other archaeological cultures illuminate cultural contacts and the transmission of jade-working traditions. Richly illustrated, the volume provides an important record of the role of jade in the material and ritual culture of the ancient Shu civilization and contributes to understanding the broader development of jade use in Bronze Age China.