gems, jade, China, amphbole jade, nephrite, yu, archaic jade

Jade objects were important markers of status during the pre-Qin period, and the use of jade formed a significant component of the ritual system of the time. This volume brings together the author’s many years of research on prehistoric jade, the jade artefacts of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, and the institutions governing the use of jade. Organized around four themes—“Distinguishing Jade,” “The Use of Jade,” “The Burial of Jade,” and “The History of Jade”—the book offers an in-depth and comprehensive examination of ancient jade objects and jade culture from three perspectives: transmitted texts, excavated manuscripts, and archaeological evidence. Through this approach, the author seeks to reveal the ritual traditions and the political and cultural significance embodied in early Chinese jade.