Green pine and white crane! Is this how immersive jade ornaments are carved?

When carving jadeite, jade carvers often start from two aspects. One is dream and emptiness. The focus is to observe the color and water changes of the jade material, use the least carving work, and perfectly present the beauty of the jade itself, so as to construct a picture with blank space and imagination intertwined.

Another method is to completely change the original shape of the jade material through exquisite carving and skills. The appearance of the jade material is carefully reshaped according to the design and planning of the jade carver, and the depth and richness of the carving theme are expressed through the clever control of the carving shape and details.

Jade carving emphasizes immersion, and lifelike details are only one of its characteristics. The richness and breadth of the composition are equally important. Ordinary lines and arcs can also be spiritually appealing and explosive in artistic conception if they can express the theme just right. Most realistic jade carvings are rich in details, which not only demonstrate the jade carver's skills, but also link the subjective feelings between jade creation and real scenes through the details of the works.

For example, this piece of "Pine and Crane Longevity". There are many jade carvings with the theme of pine and crane longevity every year. Because pine is the king of all trees and is evergreen and immortal, Taoists love to practice under the ancient pine trees. There is a story in "Records of the Divine Realm": In ancient times, there was a stone chamber in Nanguo Mountain in Xingyang County. Behind the chamber there was an ancient pine tree that was a thousand feet high and covered half a mile with shade. A pair of cranes often flew over and lived on the pine tree, never leaving day or night. According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, there was a couple who admired Taoism and lived in seclusion in this stone chamber. They later turned into white cranes and ascended to heaven. The pair of white cranes on the pine branches were transformed by them. "Longevity of pine and crane" and "Eternal youth of pine and crane" are such auspicious meanings.

But the highlight of this piece is that it focuses on carving the pine's developed root system. Chinese people believe that fallen leaves return to their roots, and roots are the origin. They must dig deep into the earth to absorb nutrients in order to thrive. The root is as spiritual as the sky and as energetic as a rainbow, following the creation of the true master. It is the living soul of jade carving.