Jades of the Liangzhu culture

Recent advances in Chinese archaeology have brought to light a number of neolithic cultures that produced carved jades. Among them the jade industry of the Liangzhu culture, whose origin dates from the fifth millennium scB.C., was the most prominent. The Liangzhu culture arrived at a period of fluorescence in the first half of the third millennium scB.C., when unprecedentedly large quantities of refined jades were produced and surface decoration grew increasingly more sophisticated. These jades provided a source of inspiration for contemporary jade industries and had far-reaching influence on later cultures.;This study attempts to provide an interpretation of the evolution of the surface decoration of Liangzhu jades and the typological transformation of major jade shapes. At the same time it responds to other related issues such as the material sources and jade working techniques. The discussion then moves on to explore more generally the relationship between Liangzhu jades and those of contemporary cultures as well as the contribution of Liangzhu jades to artistic traditions of later times.