Neolithic Chinese 6" Jade Axe Head w/Inscription--Hongshan Culture 4500 BC-2250

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques, & Fine Collect
i
bles
Neolithic
Chinese Ritual 6” Jade Axe-Head “
Yue
” Amulet
Pictographs of Dragons, Tomb Guardian Lions, & Sacrifices
Spirit Birds & Dragons Take the Soul to
Tian
(Heaven)
English Translation of
Pictographs/Characters
c. Hongshan Culture
4500 BC to 2250 BC
“In the presence of Our Ancestors, We the Sons and Grandsons Offer Ritual Sacrifices of Many Animals in Hope that Guardian Tomb Lions will protect the Soul of Our Father in His Tomb on Earth, while Dragons and Spirit Birds will Safely and Quickly Transport Our Father’s Second Soul to Tian (Heaven) and Immortality with His Many Ancestors.”
~Translated by WDH, 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
Item:
Chinese Ritual Jade Axe Head “
Yue
” Amulet
Type: This example is classified as a “Yue Axe II”
Material:
Green, Nephrite Jade
Dynasty/Culture:
Hongshan Culture
Est. Date: 4,500 BC to 2,250 BC
Approximate Measurements:
·
Length:
6.08”
(154mm)
·
Width:
1.84"
(47mm)
·
Thickness:
.87" (22mm)
·
Weight:
11.6 oz. (330 gr.)
Condition:
The entire axe head is in museum quality condition, but has been previously cleaned in China.
It shows almost no pitting or differential weathering and yet has a wonderful patina from natural mineralization that only occurs on worked jade objects buried for thousands of years in the damp soil of China.
No repairs or reconstructions noted.
This beautiful, Neolithic, Chinese Ritual Jade Axe-Head Amulet in a style classified as a “Yue Axe II," and dates to approximately the Hongshan Culture (4500 BC—2250 BC).
That’s right, this wonderful ritual jade axe is over 5,000-years-old, and symbolizes the military authority and high status of its ancient Chinese owner, that is symbolized by the Dragons that have been percussively pecked into the jade.
This axe head is shaped like a wedge, as it flares outward as it reaches midway to the bottom, and then flares back in again as it reaches the tapered tip of the axe.
This 6” tall, nephrite jade axe head has its original, dark-green color that is accented with an amazing 50+ pecked and inscribed images of Dragons to drive away Evil Spirits and Spirit Birds called Amur Falcons to carry to soul of the man to eternal life in Heaven (
Tian
).
There are numerous images of Sons making ritual offerings of animal sacrifices to the Ancestors.
DETAILS
In Neolithic China, this Jade Axe Head Amulet, called a “
Yue Axe II`
” in Chinese, 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.
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 exceptionally long 6” jade axe head has slightly flared lateral edges that narrow to the angled cutting edge. It is shaped more like a wedge, as it flares outward as it reaches midway to the bottom, and then flares back in again as it reaches the tapered tip of the axe.
This particular style is unique among the examples I have seen
of Hongshan axe heads.
Neolithic ceremonial/ritual axes are 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 their father/grandfather.
English Translation of Neolithic Pictographs
This 6” tall, jade axe head documents for eternity the sacrificial offerings made by the Sons & Grandsons of the departed man over 5,000-years-ago.
It has an amazing 50+ pictographs that are pecked and inscribed into the jade axe.
I have attempted to translate those characters that I can see clearly enough into English.
This is the first translation of the characters on this jade axe head that has ever been done.
These graphic images are some of the first written characters ever made in China.
Most of these images are very small and best seen under at least 10x magnification.
Human eyes were not worthy to see these images, so they were meant to be seen only by the eternal Ancestors who lived in
Tian
—their version of our Heaven.
Here are a few of the characters that I can see clearly enough to translate into English.
To assist you in seeing these pictographs, I have highlighted some of the macro photos with colored text and arrows.
·
There are several images of Dragons to drive away Evil Spirits, who were thought to lurk everywhere and could prevent the risen soul of the departed man from his perilous journey to Heaven.{See photo # 10}
·
Guardian Lions to scare away the Evil Spirits {See photo # 8.}
·
Spirit Birds, called Amur Falcons, are shown carrying the soul of the deceased man to eternal life in Heaven (
Tian
).
Note:
The Hongshan believed that each person had two souls; after death, one soul would stay in the tomb on Earth, while a second soul would travel to Tian (Heaven) and live eternally with their ancestors.
{See photo # 4.}
·
A Dragon with the Soul of the deceased man on his back as he safely carries him to eternity in
Tian
.
{See photo # 3.}
·
There are numerous images of Sons making ritual offerings of animal sacrifices to the Ancestors.
The Sons would use either a curved, flint knife or an axe to slay the oxen and other animals.
The number of slain animals appears to have been proportional to the status and wealth of the deceased.
{See photo # 9.}
·
A Son and Grandson with knives they used to sacrifice animals for the Ancestors.
Look at photo # ? and see the several characters that are all within a 4mm circle!
A few of these characters are just 1mm tall!!
All done with primate hand tools that used tiny pieces of flint and perhaps iron meteorites to cut into the very hard jade.
INCREDIBLE!!  {See photo # 6.}
·
A band of tiny characters on the edge of the axe that is estimated to contain 25+ graphic characters that are very small and the mineralization has filled in some of the incised characters that makes their exact meaning undecipherable to me.{See photo # 8.}
An expanded, rough translation of the inscription on this jade axe would read as follows:
“In the presence of Our Ancestors, We the Sons and Grandsons Offer Ritual Sacrifices of Many Animals in Hope that Guardian Tomb Lions will protect the Soul of Our Father in His Tomb on Earth, while Dragons and Spirit Birds will Safely and Quickly Transport Our Father’s Second Soul to Tian (Heaven) and Immortality with His Many Ancestors.”
Congratulations!
As you just read my English translation of the 5,000-years-old Chinese pictographs/characters on this Neolithic jade axe head,
you are among the
first people in the world to read them
, as the inscription on this jade axe has never been translated before—in any language!
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The axe was a common tool in ancient China, but these Jade Axes were for ritual use only, and can often be found buried with their owners in ancient tombs.
The edge of the axe is ground to an edge and the axe head 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) that were placed in tombs and/or
temples of high, social class individuals, denoted military and regal authority—as the graphic of a Dragon could only be made on items for an emperor or warlord.
It has a lovely, rounded edges and a sharped bit.
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 military general to signify his high social position as a leader and direct arm of the Emperor or warlord.
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.
And 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 ensure 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 ruler are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
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