Gem Lore

Chinese Jade Bi Disc: Cosmic Symbol & Ritual Use

Chinese Jade Bi Disc: Cosmic Symbol & Ritual Use

Explore the jade bi disc — China's 5,000-year cosmic symbol of heaven, from Neolithic Liangzhu origins and Zhouli ritual use to Han dynasty grain patterns, imperial artistic evolution, and the...

Chinese Jade Bi Disc: Cosmic Symbol & Ritual Use

Explore the jade bi disc — China's 5,000-year cosmic symbol of heaven, from Neolithic Liangzhu origins and Zhouli ritual use to Han dynasty grain patterns, imperial artistic evolution, and the...

Chinese Jade Burial Suits: Han Dynasty Traditions

Chinese Jade Burial Suits: Han Dynasty Traditions

Explore the extraordinary Han dynasty jade burial suit tradition — the three grades of gold, silver, and bronze wire, the complex construction process, the Mancheng archaeological discoveries, and the cosmic...

Chinese Jade Burial Suits: Han Dynasty Traditions

Explore the extraordinary Han dynasty jade burial suit tradition — the three grades of gold, silver, and bronze wire, the complex construction process, the Mancheng archaeological discoveries, and the cosmic...

Chinese Amber Traditions: Baltic & Burmese Amber

Chinese Amber Traditions: Baltic & Burmese Amber

Explore China's rich amber traditions — from Baltic amber along the Silk Road and Burmese burmite through Yunnan, to amber's role in Chinese medicine and ritual, the art of amber...

Chinese Amber Traditions: Baltic & Burmese Amber

Explore China's rich amber traditions — from Baltic amber along the Silk Road and Burmese burmite through Yunnan, to amber's role in Chinese medicine and ritual, the art of amber...

Chinese Coral Traditions: Red Coral & Buddhism

Chinese Coral Traditions: Red Coral & Buddhism

Explore China's rich red coral traditions — coral as one of Buddhism's seven treasures, its role in Qing dynasty official rank, the art of coral carving and coral trees, coral...

Chinese Coral Traditions: Red Coral & Buddhism

Explore China's rich red coral traditions — coral as one of Buddhism's seven treasures, its role in Qing dynasty official rank, the art of coral carving and coral trees, coral...

Chinese Pearl Culture: Freshwater Pearl Traditions

Chinese Pearl Culture: Freshwater Pearl Traditions

Explore China's ancient pearl culture — the dragon's pearl cosmic symbolism, freshwater pearl traditions of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, Song dynasty cultivation techniques, marine pearl harvesting, pearl medicine and cosmetics, and...

Chinese Pearl Culture: Freshwater Pearl Traditions

Explore China's ancient pearl culture — the dragon's pearl cosmic symbolism, freshwater pearl traditions of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, Song dynasty cultivation techniques, marine pearl harvesting, pearl medicine and cosmetics, and...

Imperial Jade: Emerald Green Jadeite History

Imperial Jade: Emerald Green Jadeite History

Explore the history of imperial jade — the vivid emerald green feicui jadeite that conquered the Qing dynasty court, inspired Empress Dowager Cixi's legendary collection, and became the most valuable...

Imperial Jade: Emerald Green Jadeite History

Explore the history of imperial jade — the vivid emerald green feicui jadeite that conquered the Qing dynasty court, inspired Empress Dowager Cixi's legendary collection, and became the most valuable...