Ye Shu-xian＇s proposal of ＂Road of Jade＂ brings forward a new way to study the origin of civilization. Jade replaced bronze as one of the major criterions of the birth of civilizations. Ye explains jade as a mystic...Ye Shu-xian＇s proposal of ＂Road of Jade＂ brings forward a new way to study the origin of civilization. Jade replaced bronze as one of the major criterions of the birth of civilizations. Ye explains jade as a mystical witchcraft which has a sacred power for the ancient people. Because the jade is produced in the water, and has the similar color with the sky, both of which have significance for the origin of life, jade is thus considered to be the origin of power. The notion of jade-god gave birth to the civilization in ancient China and triggered competition among the settlements, which in turn, advanced the development of civilization.展开更多
Scholars believe that a ‘Jade Road’ might have existed through which Hetian Jade was imported to the Central China predating the appearance of ‘Silk Road’. There are five different opinions about the first appeara...Scholars believe that a ‘Jade Road’ might have existed through which Hetian Jade was imported to the Central China predating the appearance of ‘Silk Road’. There are five different opinions about the first appearance of Hetian Jade in Central China, and yet none of which is proved by hard scientific evidence. None of the jades found in the Prehistoric Cultures in Northwest China, especially in the Qijia Culture, can be identified as Hetian Jade. The ancient jade mined in the Mazong Mountain, Gansu Province, might be corresponding to ‘rouzi zhi yu’ (Jade from Rou Zi) mentioned in ancient texts to a certain extent. This paper proposes that the formation of ‘Jade Road’ might have been related to the formation of pastoral nomadic communities which controlled the trade network between the east and the west.展开更多
基金This paper is supported by General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation （Grant No.： 2013M542363）.
文摘Ye Shu-xian＇s proposal of ＂Road of Jade＂ brings forward a new way to study the origin of civilization. Jade replaced bronze as one of the major criterions of the birth of civilizations. Ye explains jade as a mystical witchcraft which has a sacred power for the ancient people. Because the jade is produced in the water, and has the similar color with the sky, both of which have significance for the origin of life, jade is thus considered to be the origin of power. The notion of jade-god gave birth to the civilization in ancient China and triggered competition among the settlements, which in turn, advanced the development of civilization.
文摘Scholars believe that a ‘Jade Road’ might have existed through which Hetian Jade was imported to the Central China predating the appearance of ‘Silk Road’. There are five different opinions about the first appearance of Hetian Jade in Central China, and yet none of which is proved by hard scientific evidence. None of the jades found in the Prehistoric Cultures in Northwest China, especially in the Qijia Culture, can be identified as Hetian Jade. The ancient jade mined in the Mazong Mountain, Gansu Province, might be corresponding to ‘rouzi zhi yu’ (Jade from Rou Zi) mentioned in ancient texts to a certain extent. This paper proposes that the formation of ‘Jade Road’ might have been related to the formation of pastoral nomadic communities which controlled the trade network between the east and the west.
