Chinese Jade Axe Amulet with Son's Offerings to Ancestors w/Translation

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques, & Fine Collect
i
bles
Neolithic Chinese Jade Ritual Jade Axe Head Amulet
Son’s Offering to Their Ancestors in Heaven (
Ti’en
)
Pictographs 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 that is over 4,000 years old!
The amulet is made from period correct, nephrite jade (“
Fu
” in Chinese) and measures approximately 3.26" (83 mm) long x 2.46” (63 mm) wide" x .37” (9 mm) thick.
It weighs 3.1 oz. (88 gr.). The suspension hole measures 10mm (.39") in diameter
This museum quality ritual Jade Axe is in Very Good to Excellent ancient condition for being over 4,000 years old.
No repairs, or restorations.  Museum Quality patina and with 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 suspension hole that measures
.39” (10 mm) in diameter
represents Heaven (
Ti’en
).
This jade axe head has slightly flared lateral edges and wide, angled cutting edge.
This hole is classified by experts as a “Uniform Bore Hole” as it was drilled from both sides, as evidenced by the ridge that is visible inside the aperture and the different diameters of the holes on both sides of the axe.
This is the typical, hole-drilling method used for Neolithic jades.
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 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.
Gemological Research
Green nephrite jade was considered the purist and most valuable item in Neolithic China as it was thought to come from the Gods who lived in the mountains where it was mined.
The main mineral is tremolite. While the tiny “Black dots” that are embedded in the jade are common inclusions and that have been identified by modern
gemological research
to be chromite.
The Chinese trade term “
waterline
” refers to the whitish stripes that are, in fact, parallel tremolite crystals that can be seen in the macro photos I’ve attached to this listing.
Researchers think that the bright green is mainly caused by chromium ions, while iron ions also make a contribution to the stunning color that even today is the most highly prized color of jade in China.
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.
Perfect for the advanced collector!
English Translation of Inscription/Dedication
This 4,000-year-old ritual jade axe head contains an estimated 20+ character inscription/dedication on just the front side of the axe head.
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 10 and perhaps as many as 20+ ancient, Chinese, pictographic characters that were percussively pecked in low relief and incorporated into the design of this amulet.
I have been able to read and translate some of the larger characters. At first, these characters may look just like differential pitting, but I can assure you that under magnification, they are in fact characters meant only for the eyes of the Ancestors, as human eyes were not worthy to receive them.
There are exceedingly small graphic characters of Ancestor diving towards the hole.
And others of the Sons/Grandsons sacrificing animals for the Ancestors.  The Sons are also depicted offering strings of money (in the form of cowrie shells) and ritual wine.
As noted above, the expanded translation of the dedication on this precious, jade amulet might read 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 (
Tian
) and Spend Eternity with Our Ancestors”
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 in male tombs and can be found buried with their owners in ancient tombs.   Chinese and Western experts believe these ritual axes (or "
yu
" and "
fu
" in Chinese) denoted military and male regal authority when placed in a tomb.
All the accounts show that
these ritual axes were
symbols of great power and authority and would only be given to those male 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.
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!
In the 4,000-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 bone 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 bone 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 this later Neolithic blade 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 4,000-years-old.  It is made of pure Nephrite jade and has a wonderful, authentic patina that with rich, reddish-orange highlights from the iron in the soil that was in contact with for 5,000 years!  It also has white calcification from the calcium and other minerals 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.
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 are not 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 AA battery are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
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