Let's learn about the carving themes that are often seen but whose names we don't know.

There are numerous and varied jade carving themes, and some jade carvers can make many of them but don’t know what they are called! This causes players to ask what this is when they buy it? Merchants call things that look like animals auspicious beasts, and things with patterns antique patterns...

There are indeed many unfamiliar themes in jade carvings, but with the emergence of popular science articles on jade in recent years, jade carving themes are no longer unfamiliar to everyone. However, despite this, some themes can still be misunderstood!

Chi (Li) Dragon & Chi (CHi) Dragon

Many of my friends read this word as Chi (Li) Long, but it should actually be read as Chi (CHi) Long! In ancient times, people divided dragons into four types. The dragon without horns was called Chilong. People further defined these Chilong as a kind of water spirit and sea beast, which could ward off fire and evil spirits when placed in the house. There is also a saying that Chilong is one of the nine sons of the dragon, and it likes to climb high and look around, and it is the beast head on the roof today. (Shape is like an animal) According to the above statement, the prototype of Chilong should be the gecko in our lives.

Chilong is also used in jade carvings. Chilong patterns have existed in jade carvings since the Warring States Period. The posture of Chilong is often seen in jade carvings, because the image of Chilong is soft yet strong, and when combined with jade, it often creates a majestic and strong artistic look.

Wise jade carvers use the image of Chilong to express beauty, and combine it with the culture and characteristics of Chilong to develop all kinds of beautiful meanings and connotations. Chilong jade carving is a jade carving subject that has both beauty and connotation.

The meaning of Chilong

1. The Chilong has the momentum of rising vigorously, symbolizing a smooth future, great success and a prosperous career.

2. The “dragon” in Chilong is homophonic to “long”, which means prosperous business and many descendants.

3. He has achieved academic success and passed the high school entrance examination. He soared like a dragon and had the achievement of a fish leaping over the dragon gate.

4. The combination of Chilong and Ruyi symbolizes everything going well, all wishes coming true, good luck and health.

5. It symbolizes the love between men and women, which lasts forever, just like a dragon and a phoenix flying together and loving each other.

6. The Chilong looks majestic and is the supreme ruler. It can not only ward off evil and disasters, but also demonstrate the unique fortitude of men.

7. Since ancient times, dragon has been a symbol of power and wealth, and Chilong also symbolizes rising to prominence and great wealth.

Tao (tāo) Tie (tiè)

The most common animal face pattern in jade carvings is the Taotie pattern. The characteristics of the Taotie beast face are big eyes, a nose, and two horns, with the nose bridge as the midline and the two sides arranged symmetrically, and generally without a lower lip. The reason is that Taotie is a greedy creature by nature and may accidentally swallow its own lower jaw into its stomach, which is why it has no jaw.

In the history of ancient Chinese culture, Taotie patterns occupy an important position. The ferocious, rough, and unrestrained appearance they display shows a shocking power, and symbolizes an important sign of China's history of breaking away from barbarism and entering civilization.

Taotie patterns in jade carvings are often carved in relief, with long, curly, thick eyebrows, protruding, wide-open eyes, and two ferocious, fierce and powerful fangs. Through rich layered changes, they show a kind of "ferocious beauty". The carving of the whole piece is vivid and delicate, with just the right amount of detail.

Taotie meaning

1. The Taotie patterns on the pottery of the Shang Dynasty have ferocious faces and look a bit scary. What is the meaning of merchants carving this kind of pattern? After investigation, it was found that the reason why there is no Taotie pattern below the lower lip is that it has the meaning of avoiding greed. It reminds people not to be like Taotie who eats everything and wants to get a share of the benefits when he sees them.

2. Since Taotie is a ferocious monster with great power, it is regarded as a talisman by many ethnic minorities in the north. The pattern of Taotie was engraved on utensils and food dishes, believing that by doing so they could borrow the powerful strength of Taotie and avoid being devoured by other ferocious beasts.

3. Some people also believe that Taotie is greedy by nature. Therefore, many businessmen like to wear jewelry with Taotie patterns, which means that money only comes in and never goes out, and that the income is rolling in.

Huiwen & Leiwen

At first glance, the Hui pattern and the Lei pattern are very similar, but upon closer inspection, there are still huge differences between the two.

First look at the thunder pattern

Thunder is an intangible thing, which makes it even more difficult to create. Our ancestors really had a way to use such patterns to depict invisible sounds. "Shuowen" explains thunder as "a green and easy-to-grind living thing." "Shuowen" says: It looks like a rotating shape. Moreover, "the accumulation of three pins makes a crowd. If it is a crowd, the class must rotate. In February, the sun increases the sound and releases the pins to represent its rotating shape, which is not three fields." This is certainly a creative interpretation of the text. Clouds are yang, and things are yin. The struggle between Yin and Yang produces thunder and lightning, and when thunder and lightning roar, all things come into being. This is in line with scientific principles. Although thunder has no shape, its rolling and swirling sound seems to be right before your eyes.

Thunder patterns are not only widely used in ancient jade artifacts, but also widely used in various craft creations. In addition to jade decorations, thunder patterns are also found in clothing, furniture, architecture, book binding, collectibles, etc., and have played a great role in the literary and artistic creation of later generations and the development of various branches of culture. The vitality of thunder patterns lies not only in the fact that they turn invisible things into visible things, but also in the fact that they reveal a certain law of nature with extremely concise and beautiful lines, and depict infinite content with as few strokes as possible.

Let's talk about Huiwen

Huiwen, also known as Huiziwen. It is a pattern that is regarded by the Chinese people as one of endless wealth and prosperity. It is commonly seen on painted pottery from the Neolithic Age and bronzes from the Shang and Zhou Bronze Age. It is a geometric pattern derived from the thunder patterns on ancient pottery and bronze ware. Because it is a square or circular loop-shaped pattern composed of short horizontal and vertical lines, it is shaped like the Chinese character "回", so it is called Huiwen.

There are several different types of Huiwen in history, including a series of strokes, a single unit, a combination of reduced strokes, or positive and negative. Because of its reciprocating, continuous form, it is given the auspicious meaning of continuous wealth, endless prosperity and everlasting good fortune.

In addition, nipple patterns, cloud patterns, water patterns and other patterns are also commonly seen in jade carvings. There are still many uncommon topics waiting for us to discover, learn and explore.

Of course, it is precisely because of these beautiful meanings and cultures, as well as simple and elegant styles, that jade carvings have gone through the baptism of time and still exude fragrance, becoming a symbol of a culture and even a nation. From a subject matter, you can appreciate a culture and see a nation. Perhaps this is what jade carving art wants to pass on!