Jade was a precious and extremely difficult to carve mineral, mainly dedicated to the service of rituals or religious ceremonies. However, for a long time, the Shang dynasty jade design was regarded as a mere reproduction of the widely available bronzes the Shang were known for.
In this book, the author revisits pre-conceived historical knowledge and, based on the research of well-respected scholar Hayashi Minao and expert historians Deng Shuping and Cai Qingliang, proposes that many of the jades pieces exhibited today in museums and private collections may have come from distinct earlier cultures and that bronze design may have been influenced by these devotional objects, not the reverse.
Part one of this book, Jade from the early and middle Shang, presents the historical context in which cultures such as the Erlitou and the Erligang developed their unique style before being assimilated into the later Shang Dynasty.
Part two, Jade from the late Shang, focuses on specific examples of ceremonial, weapons, and decorative jade to prove further that these pieces may actually have been anterior to the predominantly bronze ear and, by doing so, bring to light the exceptional craftsmanship of much older cultures.
Eighty-four illustrations and photographs of unique jade artworks open a unique window of appreciation for these late neolithic times' sophisticated and little-known cultures.
Kako Crisci was born in China and got exposed to jade at a very young age. She became interested in the work of Hayashi Minoa while studying in Japan and ever since has been a passionate advocate of the uniqueness of jade, its beauty, and its cultural implications for some of the oldest known civilizations in the world.
“Jade of the Shang Dynasty – Jade vessels the inspiration of the Shang bronze” is Kako’s fourth book on Chinese jade . Built on the warm reception of “Hongshan Jade: The oldest, most imaginative jades full of mysterious beauty” (Neolithic Jade #1), ”Liangzhu Jade: The Power of Prayer” (Neolithic Jade #2), and ”Longshan Jade: Treasures from one of the least studied and most extraordinary neolithic jade eras.” (Neolithic Jade #3), this new work aims to demonstrate her dedication to sharing her interest in ancient jade and promote further the work of pasts masters such as Hayashi Minoa, who contributed significantly to the understanding of ancient cultures and the extraordinary work of the people inspired by this distinctive mineral.