The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China-Vol.10 Jades Unearthed from the areas of Hubei and Hunan

中国出土玉器全集-第十卷 湖北、湖南出土的玉器
Language:Chinese and English bilingual
Author:Yu Ping , Chang Suxia and Zhao Wengang
Publication date:2005    Size:220mmx300mm
Number of Pages:240 pages
Binding:Hardcover

1. Hubei area
The earliest known jades unearthed in Hubei province date to ca.4000BC of the Daxi Culture of the Neolithic period .The Daxi Culture is distributed mostly along the shores surrounding Dongting Lake. Jades of this period are mostly unornamented pieces that have been simply worked by means of boring, abrading and incising.
The Shijiahe Culture represents the first peak in jade working during the Neolithic in Hubei province. Small-scale jade ornaments predominate and most are abstractions of humans and animals.
2. Hunan area
The earliest jades excavated in Hunan era derive from the early period of the Daxi Culture. Jades from this period are simple shapes with plain surfaces yet with a sophisticated polish.
Recently there have been many stray finds of Shijiahe Culture jades in Hunan. The quality of the jade is high, with variation in the degree of the jade’s material density.