Ancient Chinese Jade Yu-Axe: Fish & Heaven Amulet w/Characters & Translation!

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques & Fine Collect
i
bles
Ancient Chinese Jade Trapezoid Axe Head Amulet
Abundance (Fish) Gift to Ancestors in Heaven (
Ti’en
)
“F
u”
Jade Ceremonial Battle Axe Head Pendant
Inscribed Dedication with Partial English Translation!
c. Liangzhu Culture
3500 BC to 2100 BC
“I Offer My Abundance of  Wealth & Perfect Work on Earth
to My Ancestors in order to Enter Heaven (Ti'en)”
SUMMARY
This Neolithic Chinese Jade Trapezoidal Battle Axe pendant in a style classified as a “Fu” axe, dates to approximately the Liangzhu Culture (3500 BC—2100 BC) and the people of ancient China.
That’s right, this wonderful ritual
Fu
jade axe symbolizes the military authority and high status of its ancient Chinese owner, is inscribed with a dedication of abundance that is over 4,000 years old!
It is made from period correct, opaque, nephrite jade (“F
u
” in Chinese) and measures approximately 2.54" (64 mm) long x 3.26” (83 mm) wide" x .39” (9.87 mm) thick.
It weighs 3.3 oz. (93 gr.).
DETAILS
In ancient China, this Jade Axe Amulet would have been worn by the living or placed in the tomb or temple of the departed by his family as an offering to the Gods 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 honorable person.
The four, trapezoid edges represented the Earth, while the center hole (.48” or 12 mm) represents Heaven (
Ti’en
).
The two parallel lines inscribed above the center hole signify Heaven and Earth, because they make the perfect pair; in Chinese, the word “
Erh
” stands for this character.
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 trapezoidal 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 .47” (12 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 Liangzhu jades. While the three smaller holes on the edges would have been used as suspension points for the pendant.
These three holes are classified as “uniform-bore holes” and are period correct for the Liangzhu period.
This ceremonial 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 inscription, and the tendency of jade to fracture and chip when struck, all suggests that his jade axe functioned as a ritual object rather than just an everyday tool.
Condition
The nephrite jade axe has a dark-green color that is accented with black highlights and beautiful russet markings from the natural iron particles imbedded in the solid jade.
The entire axe head is in museum quality condition, but it had been previously cleaned in China.
It shows heavy pitting and differential weathering with 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.
The surface of the Jade Heaven & Immortality Amulet shows growth of micro-crystalline jade (which looks like a white dust in the grooves of the jade).
Jade experts look for these tiny white crystals of jade that form of worked jade that is thousands of years old and that has been exposed to moisture. As this Jade Amulet has been in the damp earth for about over 4,000 years, the micro-crystalline jade on the surface proves the ancient heritage of this incredible amulet. This chemical reaction can only happen after a piece of carved jade has been buried for thousands of years in damp soil.
These tiny crystals almost look like white powder and should never be cleaned off or removed as they attest to the authenticity of the piece.
In addition, the weathering, calcification, and deep pitting on all sides of the amulet also points to millennia of exposure to the elements.
English Translation of Inscription/Dedication
This 4,000-year-old ritual jade axe head contains several a several character inscription/dedication on both sides of the axe head.
The pictographic characters on these Liangzhu Culture ceremonial jade were written in one of the earliest forms of a written language in ancient China.
Modern archeologists call these early pictograms “Oracle 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 lovely amulet contains several ancient, Chinese pictographic characters that have been carved in low relief and incorporated into the design of this amulet.
I have been able to read and translate the larger characters, but the smaller ones have been obscured by the extensive pitting and weathering this jade amulet suffered when it was buried in the damp earth over 4,000-years-ago.
This jade amulet has several Chinese pictographs or “graphics” incised in the jade that serve as a dedication.
Many of these characters are too worn and pitted for me to view them clearly enough to translated them, but one can see the characters for: Ancestors, I, Dragon, Earth, Son Offering to His Father and Ancestors, and the fish pictograph.
Please note the prominent ancient character for a fish that is approximately 1.11” (28 mm) long and is located right above the center hole on the reverse side.
This fish is a sign of abundance, wealth and prosperity. In China, the ancient ancestors would place messages in the bellies of fish and thus the fish also symbolizes communication with the dead. The word for "Fish" and "Abundance" are homonyms in Chinese and are both pronounced "Fu." So, the fish symbol on this jade amulet signifies a divine communication with the deceased.
The two, horizontal lines just above the large center hole (see photos 1-3) actually are the ancient Chinese character for the word "
Erh
" that in ancient Chinese Ku'wen (large seal script) means "
Earth
."  This character represents the power of jade and of the amulet to transport the soul of the departed safely from Earth to the Heavens and eternal life.
The compound Chinese character with a triangle shaped character “^” and “I” below it can be translated as “
My Perfect Work
.”
It is meant to state to the gods and ancestors in Heaven that the person who wears this amulet and presents it with his soul to Heaven has achieved success on Earth and should be granted immorality in Heaven.
The two, long, vertical lines that look like the letter “F” and that face each other.
This is the ancient Chinese character/word “
Kung
” that symbolizes two hands joined and presenting this jade amulet and the soul of this person to Heaven.
My literal translation of the dedication on this precious, jade amulet is as follows:
“I Offer My Abundance of Wealth & Perfect Work on Earth to my Ancestors in order to Enter Heaven (Ti'en)”
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. {Ref: “
A Companion to Chinese Archaeology
” edited
by Anne P. Underhill}
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
This wonderful Jade Amulet is shaped like an axe and is decorated with a larger .12 mm 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 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. {Ref: JADE, Roger Keverne, pgs. 52, 57}
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 highlight streaks of russet-orange coloring.
The ancient people who lived in Southern China were called the Yue and fought bravely with large axes against their Northern enemies.
During the Warring States period, the word "
Yue
" referred to the State of Yue in Zhejiang. Although people of Yue had knowledge of agriculture and technology of shipbuilding, Chinese writers depicted the Yue as barbarians who had tattoos, lived in primitive conditions, and lacked such technology as bows, arrows, horses and chariots.
They often equipped their soldiers with large battle axes that the Northern Chinese called
Yue
.
In the 5,000-year-old relics of Liangzhu 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.
As noted jade expert Jessica Rawson explains, early stone 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.
{Ref.
JADE
, Roger Keverne}
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 4,000-years-old.
It is made of pure Nephrite jade and has a wonderful, authentic patina that is a rich, redish-orange highlights from the iron in the soil that is was in contact with for 4,500 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.
I GUARANTEE it to be 100% authentic or your money back!
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.
Price & Value
I have carefully examined this ancient jade statue and I
GUARANTEE
it to be 100% original and authentic or your money back! I’ve looked under 10x 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 engrave 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.
Note: For reference on how to purchase authentic archaic jade, may I refer you to an excellent book published in 2009 by Stephen Payne called "
How to Purchase Archaic Jade.
" He shows in great detail how the experts determine the age and date of ancient Chinese Jade. This book is well worth the price if you are just starting your collection or if you are a seasoned "expert" and can be purchased on eBay.
I
GUARANTEE
this amulet is ancient and authentic or your money back!
Please examine the macro photos taken indoors carefully, as they are part of the description.
The stand is not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
And please ask any questions before you buy.
I
GUARANTEE
this statue is ancient and authentic or your money back!
Note:
Please ask any questions you may have before you bid!  Thanks for Looking!
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THANKS!
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