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The best know of Han decorative ornaments are the Weng Zhong the Gang Mao and the Pi Xie. 

The Weng Zhong is the beloved old man depicted in Chinese art. According to folklore he lived in the 2nd BC and was renowned in his day for his unequal strength and physical prowess. After his death images of him were erected outside palace gates in his memory. Later the images evolved in to the motif of an old man with baggy attire and clasped hands. 

Other familiar themes can be found in Han burial artifacts. For example the cicada and the pig 

Animal motif carved in the round was characteristic of Han culture having been influenced by three-dimensional representation in western art. 

But of all the myriad of Han jade ornaments the most significant legacy Han carving left behind are decorative jade ornaments. Even many centuries later Han ornaments like jade hairpins buckle bracelets and finger protectors continue to be produced in great quantities. 

White jade with earthly spots brown and gray markings

This piece is embellished with carving of the sun stars and planets with clouds and landscapes. A bead disc shape appears near the bottom while a hornless dragon has been carved at the top. In its inscription of the Gui tablet system the Zhou Li mentions a type that is like a shuttle at the top and ends with a sunflower petal shape. This means that the top is shaped thin and is wide and square. Such top weight tables are relatively late and coincide with the growing popularity of Taoism during the Han dynasty. Taoists ceremony held near mountain, rivers and marshes employed these sharp types Gui tablets carved with Taoists symbols like the sun moon and plants. The seven stars and eight diagrams and so on this piece is most probably of this category. The appearance of a bead disc on this Gui has led to some confusion as the Yuan chapter of the Zhou Li also mentions a five Gui, Pi used in sacrifices to the sun, moon and planets. It was thought that this referred to a jade item with a Gui and Pi all in one piece. Actually the ceremonies used a Gui and Pi separately. 

Green jade covered with yellowish brown marking

This ring shaped piece is similar to modern jade bracelet with a thick neck narrow body and rounded outer edge. There are four animal masks around the edge carved in relief. This kind of décor closely resembles that on the Iv-Da-Lin-Gu-Yun. 

Light yellow jade with brown markings

The Zu division on this piece marks off a total of four sections between them on each face is a poem in five-character meter of the Gan Long emperor 1793. A line in the poem says Tong-Dan-Yi-Qian-Nian that a bronze inner tub accompanying this piece is a thousand years old. So we know at least that it was not added in the chin dynasty. The Zu divisions are embellished with animal mask with light relief along with cloud patterns and along with cloud patterns and Bu Gua motifs. The carving is neat and precise indicating that it is of Ching date there is a hole in each base of the vase. 

White jade stained yellowish brown

This piece has an additional round cylinder joined to the body at the top.  The joint is carved in the shape of a posed dragon and phoenix heads while the bodies are interposed. The jade has a very ancient appearance but the cylinders are relatively short and different length and therefore incomplete. 

White jade with gray and brown markings at the top

This piece is made up of two rings with rectangular center holes and joined by a jade ring. It was carved from a single piece of jade both rings are embellished with a pattern of large and small horns dragons in open work and relief on one side and dragon patterns on the other and there is a decorative band pattern around the inner edge of each ring. 

Glossy black jade

This piece is carved in the shape of a reclining sheep with a herd boy and a pointed hat setting on its back. There is a square depression between he goat's head and the boy's figure obviously intended to receive another object. The bottom of the piece has been inscribe with a poem in five-character meter by the Gan Long emperor dated 1767 and two seal impression Bi De and Lang Run.

Recognizing Jade
What is Jade?

Where is Jade found?
Jade¡¦s Hues and Permeation
Collecting and Craving Jade
Collecting Jade
Types of Chinese Jade Ornaments(I)
Types of Chinese Jade Ornaments(II)
Types of Chinese Jade Ornaments(III)
The Evolution and Appreciation of Chinese Jade
The Story of Pein Ho¡¦s Jade
Jade Motifs
Enjoying of Jade Motifs
Enjoying of Ancient Jade
Enjoying Han¡¦s Jade
Tang & Sung Dynasties: restoring an ancient past
Ming Dynasty: The age of the Literati

Ching Dynasty: The Height of Jadeite Sculpture