Neolithic Chinese Jade Axe Amulet w/Tiger & Two Sacrificed Beasts w/Translation

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques, & Fine Collect
i
bles
Neolithic Chinese Jade Ritual Jade Axe Head Amulet
Tiger and
Sacrifices of Slain Animals for Their Ancestors in Heaven (
Ti’en
)
Inscribed 3+ Pictographs Dedication with English Translation
c. Hongshan Culture
4500 BC to 2250 BC
“In the Presence of Our Ancestors, the Son Offers to Our Ancestors
These Gifts of Jade and Raw Meat in Order that the Soul of Our Father
May Safely Enter Heaven (
Ti'en
) and Spend Eternity with Our Ancestors”
~English Translation Provided by ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
NOTE:
William Houghton, the President of ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
, a State of Washington Licensed Business, assumes all responsibility for the information contained in this description and for the English translation and transcription of the ancient Chinese graphic characters.
Furthermore, I prohibit the further dissemination of this information in any written, video, or electronic format without my expressed, written approval.
Thank You!
SUMMARY
This Neolithic Chinese
Ritual
Jade Axe amulet in a style classified as a “
Yue
” axe, dates to approximately the Hongshan Culture (4500 BC—2250 BC).
That’s right, this wonderful ritual jade axe symbolizes the military authority and high status of its ancient Chinese owner, is inscribed with a dedication of abundance that is over 5,000 years old!
This Immortal ritual Jade Axe is in Very Good to Excellent ancient condition for being over 5,000 years old. This Neolithic Chinese Pendant/Amulet has a running Tiger on the front and two other beasts that were sacrificed by the Son for his Father.  The amulet is made from period correct, nephrite jade (“
Fu
” in Chinese) and measures approximately 3.48" (88 mm) long x 2.21” (56 mm) wide" x .47” (12 mm) thick.  It weighs 4.3 oz. (121 gr.).  No repairs, or restorations.  Museum Quality patina and 3+ dedication characters/pictographs!  Please see photos as they are part of the description and the translation below of the pictographic characters on the axe.
DETAILS
In Neolithic China, this Jade Axe Amulet would have been offered as a sacrifice and placed in the tomb or surface temple of the departed by his family, as an offering to the Gods and Ancestors to grant him wealth, immortality, and to protect him or her from evil spirits in this life and in the afterlife. This finely worked Jade Amulet would also show the spirits that he/she was a wealthy and powerful person--likely a king or a member of a royal family.
The four edges represented the Earth, while the center hole (.63” or 16 mm) represents Heaven (
Ti’en
).
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.
This jade axe head has slightly flared lateral edges and wide, angled cutting edge.
The large, hole near the center represented Heaven (
Ti’en
in Chinese) and measures .63” (16 mm) in diameter.
This hole is classified as a “double-bevel hole” as it was drilled from both sides, as evidenced by the slight ridge that is visible inside the aperture.
This is the typical, hole-drilling method used for neolithic jades.
On the front of the axe in the lower right corner is a engraved image of a running Tiger that measures approximately .655" (16.64 mm) in length.  He is running to the right with his tail extended as he runs at full speed.  {See macro photos # 3 & 5}  It is possible that the Father was born in the Year of the Tiger.
On the two lateral sides of the axe
have images of the Son killing two animals as a sacrifice to the Ancestors.  These images are pecked into the jade and are very tiny--less than 4 mm and were meant only for the eyes of the Ancestors and not mortal men.  It was believed that humans were not worthy to view these inscriptions that were only meant for the Ancestors.  You can see the images of one beast in macro photos # 7-9.  And in photo # 9 there is the pecked image of the Son killing another beast with his jade knife.  The sliced meat would have been displayed to the Ancestors on a rack in a temple that was built above the tomb where the Father was laid to rest.
This ceremonial/ritual axe is based on the style of utilitarian stone axes of the period.
However, the precious value of jade (worth more than gold to this ancient culture), the engraved/pecked inscription, and the tendency of jade to fracture and chip when struck, all confirm that this jade axe functioned as a ritual object rather than just an everyday tool.
The detailed inscription on all the surfaces of the axe served as a permanent record of the many sacrifices the descendants made on behalf of the father/grandfather.
Condition
The nephrite jade axe has a dark-green color that is accented with beautiful russet markings from the natural iron particles embedded in the solid jade.
The entire axe head is in museum quality condition, but it had been previously cleaned in China.
It shows almost no pitting or differential weathering and yet has a wonderful patina that only occurs on worked jade objects buried for thousands of years in the damp soil of China.
No repairs or reconstructions.
English Translation of Inscription/Dedication
This 5,000-year-old ritual jade axe head contains an estimated 50+ character inscription/dedication on both sides of the axe head and even more graphics on the edges and inside the center hole.
The pictographic characters on this neolithic ceremonial jade axe were written in one of the earliest forms of a written language in ancient China.
Modern archeologists call these early pictograms “Oracle or Graphic Script.”
This style of script has been found as a permanent record that was written millennia ago by Chinese scribes on both oracle bones of cattle and on ritual jade and bronze artifacts.  This small inscription makes this particular jade axe HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE!
This lovely amulet contains at least 3 and perhaps as many as 6 ancient, Chinese, pictographic characters that were carved/engraved/pecked in low relief and incorporated into the design of this amulet.
I have been able to read and translate 3 of the larger characters.  As noted above, the expanded translation of the dedication on this precious, jade amulet is as follows:
“In the Presence of Our Ancestors, the Son Offers to Our Ancestors
These Gifts of Jade and Raw Meat in Order that the Soul of Our Father
May Safely Enter Heaven (
Ti'en
) and Spend Eternity with Our Ancestors”
All the accounts show that
these ritual axes were
symbols of great power and authority and would only be given to those leaders with these attributes.
The jade axe was one of the most important symbols in an elite burial tomb. In one famous burial tomb that contained 330 burial offerings, there were 44 stone and 12 jade axes. Jade axes were usually placed on the right side of the upper body in the tomb.  This particular jade axe was most likely placed in a temple erected  above ground, over top of the subterranean tomb.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
This wonderful Jade Amulet is shaped like an axe and is decorated with a larger hole in the center to symbolize Heaven.  The axe was a common tool in ancient China, but these Jade Axes were for ritual use only and can be found buried with their owners in ancient tombs.  The edge of the axe is ground to an edge and would have been attached to a wooden handle and placed in the tomb.  Chinese and Western experts believe these ritual axes (or "
yu
" and "
fu
" in Chinese) denoted military and regal authority when placed in a tomb.
This example is classified as a “
Fu
Axe” by the experts. It has a lovely sharped bit and a single suspension hole.
It has been drilled by ancient hand drills from both sides of the axe millennia ago.  Archeologists believe this axe would have been fastened to wooden handles and used as a symbol of military authority.
Such axes were often given to a general to signify his high social position as a leader and direct arm of the Emperor or warlord.
This jade axe has a bold yet graceful style with a wonderful dark green coloring!  The jade surface shows the authentic signs of ancient ground contact discoloration from the original bright green jade to a reddish/orange--from the iron in the soil.  After thousands of years in damp soil, the iron in the soil leaches into the semi-porous jade and turns it orange or red.  This
Yue
Axe has stunning, highlight streaks of russet-orange coloring.
In the 5,000-year-old relics of Hongshan Culture, these axes were made of precious jade for decoration purposes only. According to studies, the jade axe is a symbol of glory.
An event recorded in the
Shih Ji
by Sihma Cian
says that King Tang of the Shang held his
yue
and announced a punitive expedition on the ruthless King Jie of the Sia Dynasty.
Research on jade
yue
and
fu
axes from Xipo, China, reveal just how these lovely axes were made. The first step involved cutting the raw material into pieces with stone or bamboo saws and string saws soaked in a slurry of jade dust.
Then the pieces were ground and abraded to a proper shape, as jade does not flake like flint.
Next, a round hole was drilled in the top of the
yue
using a small bamboo tube and a slurry of powdered jade as an abrasive. Finally, the jade was carefully polished and inspected before its delivery and presentation to its wealthy and powerful owner.
Early jade axes such as this one a have a rather thick, solid body, while later Neolithic blades are thinner and more refined with square, edged sides.
The Chinese word for jade is
“yu”
and this jade ritual axe is made from ancient nephrite jade that has been beautifully crafted in a fantastic cultural masterpiece.
It easily dates to 5,000-years-old.  It is made of pure Nephrite jade and has a wonderful, authentic patina that is a rich, reddish-orange highlights from the iron in the soil that is was in contact with for 5,000 years!  It also is pitted from differential weathering, and has white calcification from the salts that have leached into the jade--all clear indicators of an authentic and original piece.
I have tested this jade and it tests as pure "nephrite
Yu
(Jade)" as the Chinese say.  I have examined this artifact under 10x magnification and have determined that there are no cracks, repairs, or damage of any kind.  The jade axe shows only evidence of heavy pitting and differential weathering--something that only happens when carved jade has been exposed to air and water for many thousands of years.  This is completely natural and is perhaps the best clue to look for in determining the age of jade.
I have carefully examined and authenticated this ritual Jade Axe as 100% authentic and original!
It will appraise as such by any knowledgeable Chinese jade expert or museum.
NOTE:
Please note that there are hundreds of modern reproduction axes for sale on eBay from China and the USA, but nearly all are modern fakes, and some aren’t even jade.
So please insure that you are bidding on the real thing if that is what you want before you bid.
If you only want a reproduction piece for a few dollars that is just fine, just be sure you are getting the quality and authenticity you are paying for.
Please examine the macro photos taken indoors carefully, as they are part of the description.
The stand and the AA battery are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
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