The ancient art of jade carving has bequeathed china along and rich heritage of jade masterpieces. 

Unrivaled by any other medium Chinese jade ornaments displayed a unique blend of the stone smooth natural luster and the skilled craftsmanship of ancient artisans. Its history, which goes as far back as the Bronze Age, is inseparable to the development of Chinese culture as a whole. 

By the time jade artifacts first appeared in china a stratified society based on a clan structure had already emerged as well as firmly rooted heredity system. Under such social developments jade articles took on a uniquely ceremonial and oriental function Departure from the useful stone utensils of the Neolithic era. 

For even in the Neolithic age jade was highly valued for its hardness and was therefore ideal for making primitive stone tools. 

The jade implements, which span the period from the Neolithic age to the Han dynasty, are called ancient jade. 

The earliest jade artifacts were crudely chiseled tools and talisman. Toward the close of the Neolithic age as a stratified society emerged jade article were collected by the aristocratic class to symbolize their statues. As a result the Chinese begin to attach to jade greater and greater ceremonial value as well as political significance. 

During religious rituals offering to jade ornaments were to ancestors and deities whose images were often carved on the ornaments. 

Ceremonial jade articles which first appeared toward the close of the Neolithic era reached a peek of their development in the Chow dynasty when the Chinese clans and religious rituals reached their full expression. 

But as the Chow dynasty, the ceremonial functions of jade articles were gradually discarded. And beginning in the Han dynasty beginning in the 2^nd century BC the making of jade utensils took a vastly different turn. 

Jade began to be treasured for its intrinsic beauty Chinese alchemist began to subscribe to its powers to heal maladies. Word off evil spirits and even to preserve the dead from boldly decade. Jade became in great demand but this time as decorative ornaments. 

Inlayed articles and burial items thus triggering a revival in the arts jade carving.