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In the ever-evolving world of printmaking, a wonderfully accessible and endlessly playful technique has captured the hearts of artists and crafters alike: Gelli plate printing. This simple yet versatile method allows anyone, from seasoned printmakers to curious beginners, to create unique and beautiful monoprints without the need for a traditional press.
Throughout Chinese history, jade has served to represent humans of moral quality, but also one’s rank or class. It became inextricably linked with the emperor and the ruling elite, signifying their divine mandate and supreme authority.
Ceremonial Tools for the Elite: Jade items like bi discs and guis (often referring to a type of jade tablet rather than bronze vessels in this context) were frequently used in ceremonies to honor emperors, kings, dukes, and other noble individuals. These meticulously crafted objects were central to rituals that solidified power and conveyed reverence.
Diplomacy and Virtue: Ancient texts, such as the Book of Rites (Li Ji), recorded elaborate protocols for presenting jade gifts to emperors and dignitaries. These precious offerings cemented alliances, honored ancestors, and underscored the virtue of the ruling class. The emperor, embodying the highest virtue, was seen as intrinsically connected to jade’s pure and incorruptible qualities.
Symbols of Authority: Associated with royalty, virtue, and immortality, jade was crafted into various tools, both practical and ritualistic, from early times, reflecting its importance in daily life and spiritual beliefs. For emperors, specific jade objects became potent symbols of their absolute power:
1. Imperial Jade Seal or Yuxi: This was the ultimate symbol of imperial authority. Carved from a magnificent piece of jade, the emperor’s personal seal was used to validate decrees, edicts, and official documents, making it an indispensable instrument of governance and a physical embodiment of the emperor’s will. Its existence legitimized his reign.
2. Fengshan Jade Tablet: While less commonly discussed than the Imperial Seal, tablets used in Fengshan ceremonies (sacrifices to Heaven and Earth performed by emperors) would have been of immense ritualistic importance, connecting the emperor directly to divine power and ensuring the prosperity of the realm.
3. Hierarchical Jade Belt: Jade belts were not merely accessories; they were highly regulated indicators of rank and status within the imperial court. The type, color, and number of jade plaques on a belt clearly demarcated an official’s position, with the most elaborate and precious jade belts reserved for the emperor and his closest advisors.
Beyond imperial regalia, specific ritual jades played a crucial role in the emperor’s performance of sacred duties, connecting the earthly realm to the cosmos. In ancient China, based on ancient Chinese cosmology and astrology, six types of jade articles were specifically used to worship heaven, earth, and the four directions (the sky is round, the earth is square, and four mythical animals are guarding in four directions: the Azure Dragon in the East represents spring, the Vermillion Bird in the South as summer, the White Tiger in the West symbolizes autumn, and the Black Tortoise in North as winter).
In historical and archaeological contexts, these “Six Ritual Jades” (六瑞) typically refer to:
The emperor, as the “Son of Heaven,” was the primary intermediary in these rites, using jade to ensure harmony between the human and cosmic realms. While other ceremonial jades like the Ruyi (如意) scepter (a symbol of good fortune and prosperity) also held importance, the Six Ritual Jades formed the core of the emperor’s cosmic duties.
Jade, therefore, was far more than a beautiful stone; it was the very embodiment of imperial power, moral virtue, cosmic connection, and the enduring spirit of Chinese civilization. For emperors, it was truly “The Stone of Heaven.”
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