Chinese Hongshan Jade Immortality Cicada Riding "Bi" Disk to Heaven Amulet

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques & Fine Collectibles
Chinese Hongshan Jade Cicada Amulet
Cicada {Chan (蝉)} Riding a "Bi" Disk to Heaven
c. 4500 BC—2250 BC
A gentleman always carried a jade pendant, as a symbol of class and to remind him the virtues of a gentleman,
since those virtues were found in jade.
—Confucius
Summary
This Jade Cicada Amulet measures approximately 2.39” (61 mm) long x 1.96” (50 mm) tall x .82” (.82 mm) thick and weighs 2.9 oz. (82 gr.) of highly prized old Nephrite Jade.
This cicada, a symbol of immortality, is riding a circular disk with a center hole, called a “Bi” {pronounced “Bee” in Chinese}  In ancient China, Heaven (Tien in Chinese) was represented by a circle, while a square shape represented the Earth.  There are several characters engraved into the sides of the cicada that depict the offering of this jade amulet to the ancestors to ensure safe passage of the soul of the departed to immortality in Heaven.
The jade Bi is believed to have been a precious religious or ceremonial object that is often buried in tombs with the deceased or offered as sacrifices to Gods and Ancestors. The central hole was seen as a window to the Heavens, Ancestors, and Gods (“Shên” in Chinese).  It served as an oracle or portal to one’s Ancestors in Heaven, in Chinese T’ien.”  The winged cicada on the Bi disk is also a symbol of rebirth and eternal life.
This jade offering appears to be from the son of the deceased and was certainly a ritual offering to the Ancestors in Heaven to grant the deceased immortality.  This amulet offering had to be crafted and engraved for a wealthy upper class or royal person, as only those individuals would have the means to afford such an expensive and elaborate offering.  More details below.
Condition:  This amulet is in exceptionally good, museum quality condition, with no repairs or restorations.  It has been professionally cleaned by the previous owners that allows us to better see the character inscription/dedication. But it still retains its lovely, original patina of mineral deposits (especially iron that has turned the once green jade orange.
This jade amulet has two, small, curved holes under the tail of the cicada that would have been used for suspension around the neck.  These holes are called “Ox-Nose Holes” and have been drilled by ancient hand tools at low RPM from both sides of the amulet--see macro photos.  These are period correct and have a wonderful layer of calcium and micro-crystalline jade inside the bore holes—just perfect.
Details
Jade was highly prized by these early civilizations in China and it was thought to have positive energy to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck and fortune to all who wore a piece on their person--in life and in death. Jade was also believed to be a portal or messenger that could carry prayers to Heaven and send messages to those on Earth from departed ancestors and Gods in Heaven.
Cicadas are called chan (蝉) in Mandarin Chinese. But they are also referred to as guo guo (蟈蟈), which generally refers to a cricket.  In ancient China, the cicada was a symbol of transformation and resurrection because of its life cycle.  The first 13 to 17 years of its life are spent underground, after which, it emerges in its final nymph stage.  It then sheds its skin to reveal a mature form with wings, as this cicada is represented.  Cicadas were a symbol of this resurrection and the hope for immortality of the soul of the departed in Heaven.
English Translation of Offering
As noted above, this unique amulet contains an estimated 10+ tiny, ancient, Chinese pictographic characters that have been engraved on the amulet.  The characters were normally written to offer sacrifice to the Ancestors and plead that they accept the soul of the departed into Heaven (Tien) for eternal life.
We know that this amulet was made in the mid-Hongshan Culture (4700 BC—2250 BC) because of the characters on this amulet, as this Neolithic culture used this type of character/word (also called graphics) from 3,800 BC until about 3,000 BC.  This style of writing called Shuowen Jiezi was used before the next type of Chinese characters were used to form a written language that we now call Seal Script or Ku’wen.
These amazing graphics can best be seen under  magnification, but even then I cannot see them clearly enough to decipher all of them.  Millennia of mineral deposits and natural weather have made it difficult for me to clearly see the tiny figures—some only about .5—1 mm tall, the largest is only 2 mm tall.  This artwork is truly spectacular and of museum quality. Here are just a few of the characters that are engraved in the ancient pictographic script over 5,000-years-ago:
·       The son offering ritual items to the father
·       The character that looks like the letter “T” and means superior or highest in Chinese.  This symbol is used to honor the Ancestors and Gods in Heaven (in Chinese Tien).
·       Two parallel lines behind the eyes are the character “Erh” that means “two” and is the number of the Earth because it makes the pair with Heaven.
·       And the triangle behind the eyes means “to see”
·       The three lines on the underside of the tail are the character “San” that means “Heaven, Earth & Mankind”
·       Ancestors
In ancient times, inscriptions and dedications to honor the deceased were oftentimes inscribed in places that only the Ancestors and Gods could see, or made so small that only the Ancestors could read them.  It was believed that mere mortals were not worthy to read inscriptions meant only for the eyes of departed Ancestors in Heaven (Tien).
The Hongshan Culture
The Hongshan were temple builders and city builders who created some of the earliest nephrite jade carvings. Their sophisticated Jade carving techniques employed technologies that exceeded simple explanations. It has recently been discovered that the Hongshan possessed the knowledge of metallurgy and employed the use of copper and iron from meteorites as tools to work their jade masterpieces. Many of the Hongshan Jade artifacts are well persevered because the Hongshan culture utilized slab burial tombs and because of the dry arid climate of Inner Mongolia.
As many of you know, Nephrite jade, also known as “soft jade” or “ancient Jade” in China, was used from China’s early Neolithic cultures in 8,000 BC to 1800 AD for carving all types of ritual and utilitarian items.  Nephrite, which is somewhat “softer” than the jadeite used by Neolithic Japanese and European cultures, was easier to cut, carve, polish, and drill than jadeite.  So, the ancient Chinese found that Nephrite Jade could be worked by using quartz or garnet sand, polished with bamboo or jade dust, and even drilled with wood drills that used a slurry made of jade dust and water as the abrasive.
Based on artifact evidence and 30 years of study, it appears that the Hongshan employed advanced jade shaping and carving tools that may have been made from meteorite iron or even diamonds. One fascinating study is the evidence of high content iron found in black jades used for ritual objects by the early Hongshan. Many of these artifacts are often magnetic and express the possibility that the Hongshan were aware of magnetic earth forces.
During China’s Neolithic Period, Hongshan Jade ritual and tomb objects were created for a period of more than 2,000 years. Hongshan jades have been discovered in large quantities with over 52 different types of Jade objects in various shapes and forms.
Value
I have carefully examined this ancient jade amulet and I GUARANTEE it to be original and authentic or your money back! I’ve looked under 10x and 50x magnification under both natural and Black Light and I can find no signs of any modern tool work or repairs. The hand tool marks left in the jade by the master stone artist who carved, shaped, and engraved this work of art appear to be consistent with those marks of other ancient jades I have examined.
Each object I sell is professionally researched, translated (if I can...(smile), and compared with similar objects in the collections of the finest museums in the world. I have been dealing in fine antiquities for over 45 years and although certainly not an expert in every field, I have been honored to appraise, buy, collect, and enjoy and recently sell some of the finest ancient art in the world. When in doubt, I have worked with dozens of subject matter experts to determine the condition and authenticity of numerous antiquities and antiques. This careful examination helps to insure you are buying quality items and helps to protect your investment. There are many modern reproductions or "fakes" on the market today, so be sure and buy only from experts in the field.
Please examine the macro photos taken indoors carefully, as they are part of the description.
The stand and AA battery are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
And please ask any questions before you buy.
I GUARANTEE this amulet is ancient and authentic or your money back!
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