Xia (2183 BC – 1751 BC)

According to “The Age of Xia , Historical Records <史記夏本紀>” of Ssu-Ma Chien(司馬遷), the Xia Dynasty lasts about four hundred years from 2138B.C. to 1751B.C. The Erlitou Culture found in Yensi Hsien of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henan">Honan Province.</a> in 1975 has been confirmed to be the Xia Culture. Some scholars believe that the time period of Xia Culture overlaps the later period of Hongshan Culture. From the available Xia Dynasty jade artifacts found, the variety of Xia Culture jade artifacts include jade ring, jade ax, notched zhang, notched bi-disk, arched plaques most of which are rather large and thin in size and have symmetrical lines.Parallel and intersection incised thin lines are used to form simple and concised motif. Moreover, many Xia jades are seen the trellis design consisting intersecting straight lines to form close and inseparable rhomboid shape that further to generate the  exaggeration effect and the feeling of the mystery and solemnness that these ritual artifacts carrying. The type of and the number of notches on the end of the blade and the on the flange may be served as the ranking system of the ritual meaning of the zhang. This may be the earliest military ranking symbols in history.
Xia Dynasty, Jade Zhang, L.36cm, W.10cm
<strong><em>Identification:</em></strong>
Carved from green yellow tone jade, this zhang has one peak blade.Between the blade and the handle( the lan or flange ) is seen two set of graceful parallel diamond shape low relief lines separated by a space with four notches on both ends. a hole polished on both sides is seen on the upper part of the handle( tang ).  Antiquity evidences mainly are<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/DSCN3905A.jpg"> dissolved pits.</a>
Xia Dynasty, Jade Zhang, L. 36cm, W. 12cm
<strong><em>Identification:</em></strong>
Carved with yellow green tone jade, this zhang is seen two peaks on the end of the blade. Between the blade and the handle is seen two graceful parallel square spiral shape with a space having three notches. Antiquity evidences including <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaTwoPeakDissolvedPits1.jpg">additive crystal</a>,<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaTwoPeakDissolvedPits1.jpg"> dissolved pits</a> and<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/water-erosion-markings.jpg"> water erosion markings</a>.

Xia Dynasty, L.37.5cm, W.12cm

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

Carved with yellow green tone jade, this zhang is seen special structure at the end of the blade. The structure is composed with two square shape branches with one notch in between. On the flange are two strips of low relief square spirals carving which are separated by a space with three notches on both ends. The number of notches appeared on the flange is believed to have special meaning related to the ranking of the master who carries this zhang. Antiquity evidences include<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/Xia3Dissolved-pits.jpg">< dissolved pits</a> and<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/Xia3Additive-crystal.jpg"> additive crystals</a>.

Xia Dynasty, L.36cm, W.10cm

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

Carved with yellow green tone jade, this zhang is seen three notches at the end of the blade. On the flange are two strips of low relief square spirals carving which are separated by a space with two notches on both ends.  Antiquity evidences include <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/Xia4Dissolved-Pits-and-Additive-Crystal.jpg">dissolved pits </a>and<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/Xia4Additive-Crystal-and-Carving-Style.jpg"> additive crystals</a>.

Xia Dynasty, 51cm, W.12cm

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

Carved with yellow green tone jade, this zhang is seen special structure at the end of the blade. The structure is composed with two square shape branches with four notches in between. On the flange are two strips of low relief rhomboid shape carving which are separated by a space with four notches on both ends. The number of notches appeared on the flange is believed to have special meaning related to the ranking of the master who carries this zhang. Antiquity evidences include<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaFivePeakDissolvedPits.jpg"> dissolved pits</a> and <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaFivePeakAdditiveCrystal.jpg">additive crystals</a>.

Xia Dynasty

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

Carved with yellow green tone jade, this zhang is seen five notches at the end of the blade. On the flange are two strips of low relief round spirals carving which are separated by a space with two notches on both ends.  Antiquity evidences include<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaFivePeak1DissolvedPits.jpg"> dissolved pits</a> and <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaFivePeak1AdditiveCrystal.jpg">additive crystals</a>.

Xia Jade Axe-shape notched bi, D.24cm

With the round shape having a hole of which the diameter is shorter than the length of outside space, the object is thus identified as a bi. Notches are seen on both sides, thus it is identified as notched bi. The upper part is thick with shape of handle, while the lower part is shape like a blade. The object is identified as axe. This object is thus identified as jade axe-shape notched bi. Antiquity evidences include <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaAXeDiskDissolved-Pits.jpg"> dissolved pits</a>, <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaAxeDiskAdditive-Crystal.jpg">additive crystal</a> and differential weathering.

Xia Dynasty , Axe-shape jade bi, D.18cm

With the round shape having a hole of which the diameter is shorter than the length of outside space, the object is thus identified as a bi. Notches are seen on both sides, thus it is identified as notched bi. The upper part is thick with shape of handle, while the lower part is shape like a blade. The object is identified as axe. This object is thus identified as jade axe-shape notched bi. Antiquity evidences include<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaAxeDissolved-Pits-and-differential-weathering.jpg"> dissolved pits</a>, additive crystal and differential weathering.

Xia Dynasty, Notched Bi, D.24cm

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

The bi has four sections of notches structure. Each section has one big notch and 20 small notches. Antiquity evidences include mica, <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaNotchAdditive-Crystal.jpg">additive crystal</a> and differential weathering. In addition,<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/XiaNotchDifferential-Wethering-and-Caving-Style02.jpg"> ancient tool mark</a> is seen.

Xia Dynasty, Jade Ring, D.18cm

<strong><em>Identification</em></strong>:

Carved with green tone jade, the ring has six primitive dragon low relief carving on each side. Antiquity evidences include<a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/DSCN3903A.jpg"> dissolved pits</a> and calcification.

Xia Dynasty Axe, L.29.5cm, W. 11cm, D.3cm

<strong><em>Identification</em>:</strong>

With the shape of ax, the handle of phoenix and dragon, the carving style of lining and <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/chinese/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/HongshanAxeAdditiveCrystal1.jpg">hole drilling pattern</a> conform those of the Xia jades. The script on the blade read:五(?)公祭日上(?)呈( present to the date of pray to the fifth duke ). The lines of the scripts have the style of dual incise lines forming a lines having convex effect.  <a href="http://www.exoticjades.com/chinese/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/HongshanAxeAdditiveCrystal1.jpg">Additive crystals</a> are obvious.