The Hetian jade industry can span thousands of years without decay, and the exquisite craftsmanship and far-reaching meaning of jade carving art have a lot to do with it. Among the various themes used in jade carving art, the theme of mythical beasts can be said to be the most exciting existence.
In the art of jade carving, these mythical beasts are given a new life, they come from the legend, leap on the jade, become the plaything in people's hands, the sustenance in the heart, they are not only a symbol of good luck, but also carry people's yearning for mysterious power and the expectation of a better life.
There are many themes of mythical beasts, some of which are very popular and well-known, today, we will explore the topic of the jade carving beast ranking together to see if it is consistent with the ranking in your heart.
No. 1 on the list of mythical beasts: Dragon Tortoise
The dragon tortoise, also known as Xuanwu, is a combination of a turtle and a snake, which is not only a symbol of longevity, but also represents a firm faith and indomitable spirit.
The jade carved dragon turtle can be said to be the best partner for seeds. One side is a beautiful leather color, and the skin color can be skillfully carved into the skin shell of a dragon turtle. On one side is a delicate and oily jade, which just shows the characteristics of the seed.
The theme of the dragon turtle is particularly suitable for playing, and the meaning is good, full of realism and fun, it can resist all risks, bring stability and tranquility of the beautiful meaning, but also make it one of the most classic themes in Hetian jade, especially in the seed material.
Second place in the list of divine beasts: dragons
Although dragons are more well-known, much higher than dragon turtles, and almost all Chinese know dragons even as three-year-old children, from the perspective of the jade carving industry, dragons can only rank second, because the proportion of dragon turtles in the handlebars is higher.
In the theme of jade carving dragons, dragons mostly appear in the image of ornaments, and it mostly appears in jade plaques or ornaments, and there are relatively few pieces.
The image of the jade carved dragon is changeable, or hovering in the clouds, or turning over the river and the sea, but no matter how it is carved, it needs to reflect the dragon's mighty momentum and mysterious rhyme, and the dragon is the perfect combination of strength and wisdom. This is the definition of the spiritual outlook of the dragon in the Chinese nation.
The third place in the list of divine beasts: phoenix
As the so-called dragon and phoenix are auspicious, there must be a dragon and a phoenix, so the phoenix is ranked third.
The phoenix, as the king of birds in ancient Chinese mythology and legends, is the spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, like the dragon, representing the bravery, wisdom and pursuit of a better life of the Chinese people. At the same time, the phoenix also symbolizes harmony and happiness, implying peace in the world and family harmony.
Phoenixes, like dragons, also mostly appear in the image of ornamentation.
Whether the phoenix carving is good or not depends on whether it can show the temperament of the phoenix: smooth lines, that elegant posture. The phoenix crown is towering, the wings are plump, and the long tail is elegant, as if it will flutter its wings from the jade at any time.
Fourth place in the list of divine beasts: Pixiu
Pixiu, also known as warding off evil spirits, Tianlu, and Baijie, is a member of the nine sons of the dragon, and the meaning is excellent.
Because the big belly has no anus and only enters and does not leave, it has the meaning of driving away evil spirits and avoiding evil, attracting wealth and blessings, and is regarded as the guardian of wealth and good luck. Its unique form and meaning are deeply loved by people.
Nowadays, Pixiu, like the dragon tortoise, has already become a classic theme in jade carving!
Different from the fierce strength of the dragon turtle, the image of the jade carving Pixiu can be fierce and cute, usually showing a powerful and cute image.
The artistic expression of Pixiu is also diverse, standing, lying, lying down, crawling, and the shape is lion-shaped, tiger-shaped, and dragon-shaped.
Fifth place in the list of divine beasts: Qilin
The unicorn, as the head of the beasts, incorporates the characteristics of dragons, deer, horses and other animals, implying auspiciousness, wealth and virtue.
The ancients believed that wherever the unicorn haunts, there must be auspiciousness. It is also often used as a metaphor for people with outstanding talents and both ability and integrity. Many outstanding emperors in ancient times, including the "sage" Confucius, had the legend of "unicorn sending children". In addition, there is also a saying that the folk bless the unicorn and the town house unicorn.
However, judging from the popularity and popularity of jade carving themes, the unicorn can only rank fifth.
The jade carved unicorn is often portrayed in a gentle and elegant manner, with a light step and a peaceful atmosphere around it. The appearance of the unicorn not only represents the arrival of good luck, but also symbolizes noble character and beautiful vision.
Although these five kinds of mythical beasts are ranked, they have their own merits in the art of jade carving, they are not only the display of skills, but also the inheritance of culture and emotional sustenance, they all reflect people's pursuit of a better life and reverence for mysterious power.
What do you think of this ranking? What other mythical beasts do you think should also be on the list?