gems, jade, nephrite, China, Chinese jade carving, archaic jade

This paper examines characteristics of the Northern Song jades, in order to discuss the influence of archaism on them and also on the jades of the Southern Song. It will also discuss the interaction between jades of the Northern Song (960–1127) and Liao (816–1125), and the Southern Song (1127–1279) and Jin (1115–1234). Archaism in the Northern Song attracts scholarly attention to the burial objects from Lü Dalin’s tomb and those from the tombs. of other members of the Lü family in the same cemetery. Unearthed archaistic bronzes and jades, a large number of stone objects made after Zhou and Han bronzes and jades in particular, provide physical information for studying literati taste for, and interest in, archaism during the Northern Song. Author and compiler of the Kaogutu, Lü Dalin and his family should recognised as among the earliest enthusiastic advocates of archaism.