A Jade Yue (鉞) is an ornate, ceremonial battle-axe from ancient China, primarily used by elites in rituals during Neolithic to Shang dynasties (c. 21st-11th centuries BC) to display status, not for actual combat, often featuring elaborate designs, jade, and turquoise inlay, signifying immense power and authority.
National Treasure 国宝
Jade Yue (Battle-Axe) 玉钺
Jadeite | Liangzhu culture in the Neolithic Age (5,300-4,300 BP) | Excavated from tomb No.12 on Fanshan Mountain in 1986 | Zhejiang Provincial Museum Collection. 玉器｜新石器时代良渚文化（距今5300～4300年）｜1986年反山12号墓出土｜浙江省博物馆藏
The object is pale blue colour with greenish-black spots. There are traces of carving near the handle, which has not been polished, and finely incised lines can also be seen. The owner held the handle of the jade axe with the end-piece against their hand and the jade axe, body against their shoulder, while the pinholes were located at the top of the handle, displaying their military authority.
The shallow relief deity-animal face patterns and bird patterns are carved on both sides of the two edges, making this jade axe unique among the Liangzhu jade axe collection. This special feature is unique among the yues excavated in Liangzhu and reflects the exceptional status of this jade axe, fulfilling the title “钺王”, or “the king of the jade axe.”
Top Decoration Of Jade Yue 玉钺瑁
The object is plain without any patterns. Its shape resembles the bow of a ship, with two different heights on the top surface and one side curled upwards. When excavated, it was found about 80 cm away from the end-piece of jade axe M12:100-2, and the organic material handle between them has decomposed and left no trace, except for small jade beads embedded in it.
End Decoration Of Jade Yue 玉钺镦
The object is plain and unadorned. The bottom is an oval shaped platform with an oblique tenon joint, with a round hole in the middle of the tenon and a mortise on both sides. It is clear that the installation of the handle is very firm. It was found approximately 80cm away from the jade ceremonial axe M12:105, indicating that the complete length of the jade ceremonial axe is approximately between 70 to 80 cm.
The Stone Axe is a weapon and tool utilised by the Liangzhu society. These stone yue, recovered from Tomb No. 12 in Fanshan, are distinct from those interred with ordinary inhabitants in terms of material and shape. Referred to as “colourful stone axe” in archaeological literature, relevant research indicates that these axe pieces possess an “associated” relation to jade ore, a comparatively rare material. Notable for their luminosity, both blade edges are soft and rounded with no perceivable blade angle, likely denoting power. 1
Liangzhu society is believed to be hierarchical as evident from the burial goods for each strata of society. Archaeological evidence shows that these stone axe were found in the elite burials of the Liangzhu culture.
“Fu Hao” Bronze yue (Ceremonial Axe) “妇好”铜钺
Bronze | Shang Dynasty (ca. 1600BC-1046BC) | Fuhao Tomb, Ruins of Yin, Anyang, Henan | Chinese Archeological Museum Collection. 铜器｜商（約公元前1600～公元前1046年）｜河南安阳殷墟妇好墓出土｜中国考古博物馆藏2
A bronze yue was found in Fuhao’s tomb, which is unusual for a female tomb. This supports the fact that Fuhao is a Warrior-Queen of the King Wu Ding of Shang, as the yue is a symbol of military power usually given to males.
Photos taken at Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Aug 2024, China Archaeological Museum, Oct 2024, unless otherwise indicated.
About Chinese Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese 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 :
- 石钺
STONE AXE
石钺是良渚时期的武器之一。这些出自反山12号基的石钺与平民墓葬中的石钺在用科和造型方面均有不同。用料上，其石料与玉矿存在“伴生”关系，是较稀有的材料；造型上，它们通体光泽明亮，刃部两端柔和圆润，没有实用痕迹，应是权力的象征物。Museum information card, Aug 2024 ↩︎ - “Fu Hao” Bronze Yue Ceremonial Axe “妇好”铜钺
略呈斧形，长方形内，平肩，弧刃，两侧边外侈，并铸有“T”字形凹槽。肩下有两对称长方形穿，其下以云雷纹为地纹，上饰有两条侧身龙纹。其中一侧兽鼻上铸铭文“好好”二字。Museum information card, Oct 2024 ↩︎
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