The tradition of

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n jade carving dates back to

neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

finds along the Namgang river basin in Gyeongju. Jade rings and accessories made from both

nephrite Nephrite is a variety of the calcium, magnesium, and iron-rich amphibole minerals tremolite or actinolite ( aggregates of which also make up one form of asbestos). The chemical formula for nephrite is Ca2( Mg, Fe)5 Si8 O22(O H)2. It is on ...

and jadeite were worn by the higher classes of society, especially women, from the

three kingdoms The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...

period and reached their peak in the

Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

, the golden age of jadework. Carved jade artifacts found in

Silla dynasty Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of Ko ...

tombs appear to be made from jade originating from Japan and Taiwan, suggested sea trade of jade existed prior to the 5th century AD. Korean jadework often includes

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

motifs,

cicada The cicadas () are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs). They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. The superfamily is divided into tw ...

s, and small peanut-shaped or comma-shaped good luck talismans (called magatama or

gogok ''Gobeunok'' or ''Gogok'' are comma-shaped or curved beads and jewels that appeared from middle age of Mumun Period (1500 to 300 BC) through the Three Kingdoms of Korea (57 BC to 668 AD). The ''Gogok'' (곡옥; 曲玉) is posited by researchers ...

), as well as larger-scale architectural pieces. A gold crown featuring 58 hanging jade pendants and a gold girdle with 13 jade pendants were both found in the Silla-era tomb of an unknown king, called Cheonmachong (or 'sky horse tomb'), first excavated in 1973.

Contemporary jade market

In the local markets of Korea there now exists a wide variety of jade carvings and jewelry available for purchase. These items are much less costly than their Chinese counterparts.

Mokpo Mokpo (; ''Mokpo-si'') is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, close to Yudal mountain. Mokpo has frequent high-speed train services to Seoul, and is the terminus for a number of f ...

is also the site of master jade carver Jang Ju-won's atelier and exhibit hall.

References

External links

Jade Crafts Exhibit Hall in Makpo City, designed especially for art tourists
Jade Jade Hardstone carving {{art-hist-stub

Contemporary jade market

See also

References

External links