A ''huang'' (璜) is a Chinese arc-shaped

jade Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole gro ...

artifact that was used as a pendant.Rawson, Jessica (2002). ''Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing''. Art Media Resources. pp. 266-267. Huang arcs were used in a jade pei ornament set (組玉佩), which would be worn from the belt. The pendant set would emit a faint pleasant sound as the wearer walked, in line with the customs of Confucian etiquette.Rastelli, S., editor (2008). ''China At the Court of the Emperors: Unknown Masterpieces from Han Tradition to Tang Elegance (25–907)''. Florence: Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi. p. 301. Cited in The number of huang arcs in a set of jade pendants is not always the same. It is suggested that the amount in a set may have indicated the social status of the person. At the ends of a huang, there were often abstract heads of animals carved into the jade. During the Eastern Zhou period, block-shaped tiger-like ends were often used in the huang, but these would develop into more-abstract notches. File:Huang with interlocked dragon design.jpg, Huang with interlocked dragon design, Western Zhou period, housed in the Shanghai Museum File:Arc-shaped pendant (huang),Western Zhou period, 10th or 9th century BC.jpg, Huang, Western Zhou period, housed in the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mil ...

File:Huang with two dragon heads.jpg, Huang with two dragon heads,

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...

, housed in the Shanghai Museum File:Dinastia han anteriori, pendenti huang, II sec. ac. ca., giada verde.JPG, Huang and two other pendants from green jade, Western Han period, housed in the Guimet Museum File:组玉佩SPIA.jpg, A jade pei ornament set combines jade artifacts in a variety of ways. This one, from the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...

, includes a pair of symmetrical huang arcs.

References

{{Reflist Jade Hardstone carving Chinese art

See also

References