The iconic motif was adopted as the museum’s emblem and frequently serves as Guangzhou’s cultural ambassador in official contexts.
Jade Openwork Disk with Dragon and Phoenix 透雕龙凤纹重环玉佩
Jade | Nanyue period (205-24 BC) of the Western Han Dynasty (202-9 BC)｜Dia: 10.6 cm | Excavated in 1983 from the tomb of the King Wen of Nanyue, Museum of the King of Nanyue Collection. 玉器 ｜ 西汉南越国 （公元前205年-24年）｜ 直径10.6厘米｜西汉南越国时期 1983年南越文王墓出土 南越王博物院藏
The Jade Openwork Disk with Dragon and Phoenix, measuring 10.6 cm in diameter and 0.5 cm thick, held profound significance for its owner—excavated directly over the right eye of Zhao Mo’s funerary head covering.1 Carved from yellowish-white nephrite (likely Hotan jade 和田玉2 altered by millennia of soil exposure), this masterpiece divides into concentric rings through two circular frames.3
Within the inner ring, an openwork dragon coils dynamically, its claws and tail extending into the outer ring. There, a phoenix perches elegantly upon the dragon’s outstretched forelimb, turning its head to gaze back at the dragon in a moment of silent communion. The phoenix’s crest and tail feathers dissolve into scrolling cloud patterns that fluidly fill the outer space.
This pendant epitomizes Han jade artistry through its extraordinary fusion of technical mastery and poetic imagination. The intricate openwork carving, harmonious composition balancing mythical creatures within rigid geometry, and emotive interplay between the dragon and phoenix showcase unparalleled craftsmanship. Its perfect synthesis of romantic symbolism and structural precision earned it recognition as a crown jewel of the Nanyue King Museum. 4,5
Chinese Burial Traditions of Jade
In ancient Chinese burial customs, jade held significant symbolic importance, particularly during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Jade was believed to possess protective and even restorative properties, and its use in burial rituals aimed to preserve the body and facilitate the deceased’s passage into the afterlife.
丝缕玉衣 ，南越国文帝赵眜的殓服，现藏于广州西汉南越王博物馆
Elaborate jade burial suits, crafted from thousands of jade plaques sewn together with gold, silver, or copper thread, were reserved for emperors and high-ranking nobles.
Jade Jewellery of the King 南越王赵眛组玉佩
Jade, gold, black amber and glass | Nanyue period (205-24 BC) of the Western Han Dynasty (202-9 BC)｜ Excavated in 1983 from the tomb of the King Wen of Nanyue, Museum of the King of Nanyue Collection. 玉器、金、黑琥珀、玻璃 ｜ 西汉南越国 （公元前205年-24年）｜ 西汉南越国时期 1983年南越文王墓出土 南越王博物院藏
The King’s jewellery consists of 32 articles made of jade, gold, black amber and glass. The four major components are: a disc decorated with raised spirals and flanked by two phoenixes, an open-carved disc with a dragon and two phoenixes, a rhinoceros horn shaped pendant, and a pendant with double dragons.
Openwork Disk with Dragon and Spirals 透雕游龙涡纹玉壁
Jade | Nanyue period (205-24 BC) of the Western Han Dynasty (202-9 BC)｜ Excavated in 1983 from the tomb of the King Wen of Nanyue, Museum of the King of Nanyue Collection. 玉器 ｜ 西汉南越国 （公元前205年-24年）｜ 西汉南越国时期 1983年南越文王墓出土 南越王博物院藏
This disk was found on the top of the mask of the King’s shroud. The decoration on each side is identical, with an openwork rampant dragon in the center, surrounded by a ring of raised spirals framed by beveled inner and outer borders.
Jade jewellery is not only a sign of wealth and status, but also a symbol of courtly virtue and a talisman for protection. The large quantity of ornamental jades found in the tomb, as well as their superb workmanship, testifies to the level of development.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
Footnotes:
- 玉佩出土于墓主右眼位置，青白玉雕成，土沁呈黄白色。在设计上，玉佩分为内外两圈，内圈透雕一条游龙，外圈透雕一只凤鸟，站在龙的前爪之上。
龙尾和后爪伸向外圈，凤冠和尾羽上下延成卷云纹，把外圈空间填满。凤鸟回眸凝望游龙，龙凤似喃喃细语，妙韵天成。龙凤相对，寓意吉祥。这件玉佩雕镂精细，构图完美和谐，主次分明，是汉代玉器中不可多得的艺术珍品。https://www.nywmuseum.org.cn/Collection/Details/dcjp?nid=95 ↩︎ - Hotan jade, also known as Hetian jade, is a type of nephrite jade originating from the Hotan region of Xinjiang, China.It’s highly valued for its fine-grained structure, hard texture, and diverse range of colors, including white, green, and yellow. Hotan jade is not only prized for its aesthetic beauty but also holds significant cultural and symbolic meaning in Chinese and East Asian traditions. https://www.chinese-showcase.com/en-sg/blogs/jewelry/what-is-hotan-jade ↩︎
- 松竹 (8 November 2018). “龙与凤的凝望 穿越了两千年”. Official Wechat account of the Nanyue King Museum. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024. ↩︎
- Nanyue King Museum (24 February 2020). “详尽图文看《南越藏珍》！（Part 4：美玉大观·下篇）”. WeChat official account. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024. ↩︎
- Nanyue King Museum (7 November 2022). “这件文物常被偶遇，出镜率也太高了！”. WeChat official account. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024. ↩︎
0 comments on “Treasures – Jade Openwork Disk with Dragon and Phoenix (Early Han)”