Jade Openwork Combined Bi with Chi and Tiger Pattern

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Jade Openwork Combined Bi with Chi and Tiger Pattern is outstanding representative of jade craftworks in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, development of jade craft reached the peak. Openwork (engraving penetrating patterns or words on objects), relief and other decoration techniques were used widely. In addition to tiger pattern, decorative patterns included bird pattern, phoenix pattern and dragon pattern. Jade Openwork Combined Bi with Chi and Tiger Pattern features oblate body, the same pattern on both sides, a circle of string pattern in inner and outer edges and orderly arrangement of Guding pattern in the middle. The middle hole sees the openwork of animal which opens mouth and raises chest and head high. The front half of the dragon body is “Chi ” (i.e., dragon without horn according to the ancient legend)”, while rear half of the dragon body is “Tiger”. This jade Bi consists of two halves separated by axis, which is a token for closing and combining. Hence combined Bi is named after.

“Heshi Bi ” was a famous jade in ancient China, which was collected by Zhao Kingdom in the Warring States Period. King Zhaoxiang of Qin Kingdom wrote to King Huiwen of Zhao Kingdom to express the willingness of exchanging 15 cities of Qin Kingdom for Heshi Bi . At that time, Qin Kingdom was much stronger than Zhao Kingdom. King Huiwen of Zhao Kingdom doubt that was a fraud, but he was afraid to offend the Qin, and had to sent minister Lin Xiangru to take Heshi Bi and visit King Zhaoxiang of Qin Kingdom. At the first sight of Heshi Bi , King Zhaoxiang of Qin Kingdom liked it very much but didn’t mention 15 cities. Lin Xiangru showed resourcefulness in an emergency, and lied to point out a fault on Heshi Bi and took back it. Then he put Heshi Bi high over his head, and said: “If Qin Kingdom makes treachery and robs this jade, I would rather let it and my head smashed in the column of this palace!” Finally, Lin Xiangru took advantage of tremendous courage and wisdom, who not only let this jade safely return to Zhao Kingdom, but also maintain the dignity of Zhao Kingdom. This is the famous story of “returning Bi intact to Zhao Kingdom” in history.

Jadeware production

Jadeware production must go through sawing, grinding, perforation, carving, polishing and many other processes. Jadeware is produced with at least ten days or half a month and even over the years. In the Warring States Period, the mining volume of jade materials greatly soared, and the number of jade craftworks rapidly increased. Iron tools were widely used for jade carving, perforation and other processes. Production technology of openwork and live ring chain greatly improved. This makes the jadeware not only more exquisite and smart with refifi ned patterns, but also shows a sense of layers through the changes in thickness and evenness of lines.

Jade in ancient China

In ancient China, the concept of “jade” was very broad, including not only the true jade, but also serpentine, turquoise, malachite, agate, crystal, amber, ruby and beryl, etc. During the Warring States Period, “jade” became the main body of ritual object. At the same time, high offifi cials and the intelligentsia had popular custom of wearing delicate small jadeware on the body. There was a saying that “noble man should not remove jade for no reason” (i.e., noble man should not let jade leave the body). This links jade ornaments with human’s spiritual world, behavior and moral cultivation together, demands people to embrace clean quality like the jade, bind themselves in lie with jade quantity, and restrain their conducts.

Bi is a kind of jadeware, with oblate shape and central hole. In the pre-Qin period, jade was generally used for the following purposes: 1) worship objects dedicated to heaven, mountain, sea stars and rivers; 2) ceremonial or ritual objects or symbols of different identity; 3) pendants for wearing; 4) a weight used for a measure of the weight of an object; 5) burial objects (the ancients believed that Bi could exorcise evil spirits and avoid decay of the deceased. In all jade works used as ritual objects, “Bi ” enjoyed the highest status, which was often used as offering sacrififi ces to gods and diplomatic gifts. Its position was only second to “Ding “.