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Jade sculpture a gem from Shanghai district
By Zhao Dan |
May 9, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
XILIN Pagoda located in Shanghai's suburban Songjiang District was built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and was reconstructed in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Today it is one of the district's historical buildings and a tourist attraction, and a lot of precious cultural items have been found in the pagoda in the past.
A jade sculpture of three children displayed in the Shanghai Museum is one of them.
The sculpture is made of greenish white jade and stands 9.2 centimeters high.
The design of the sculpture is intricate and complex: a baby is sitting on a girl's shoulder, and another small boy is holding onto the girl.
The three children look like they are sister and brothers. Their behavior and facial expressions are vivid and lively.
Judging from their clothing, the jade item was sculpted by local craftsmen because they are dressed in apron, knickerbockers and with a belt, a common style of clothing for residents living in Songjiang and nearby Jiangsu Province at that time.
Several lotus leaves are vividly sculpted at the rear of the main jade characters in the item. Children with lotus leaves are a common item in Chinese folk art, symbolizing innocence, happiness and more children in the family.
The scene is usually prevalent in sculptures, paintings and porcelain.
The sculpture was crafted in the early Ming Dynasty, and it is possibly the most artistic and delicate piece that has ever been recovered from this period.
Today it is one of the district's historical buildings and a tourist attraction, and a lot of precious cultural items have been found in the pagoda in the past.
A jade sculpture of three children displayed in the Shanghai Museum is one of them.
The sculpture is made of greenish white jade and stands 9.2 centimeters high.
The design of the sculpture is intricate and complex: a baby is sitting on a girl's shoulder, and another small boy is holding onto the girl.
The three children look like they are sister and brothers. Their behavior and facial expressions are vivid and lively.
Judging from their clothing, the jade item was sculpted by local craftsmen because they are dressed in apron, knickerbockers and with a belt, a common style of clothing for residents living in Songjiang and nearby Jiangsu Province at that time.
Several lotus leaves are vividly sculpted at the rear of the main jade characters in the item. Children with lotus leaves are a common item in Chinese folk art, symbolizing innocence, happiness and more children in the family.
The scene is usually prevalent in sculptures, paintings and porcelain.
The sculpture was crafted in the early Ming Dynasty, and it is possibly the most artistic and delicate piece that has ever been recovered from this period.
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