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Ma Weidu’s Collection: Jade

In the movie, The Mummy, a mummified Egyptian wrapped in bands of cloth awaited its reincarnation in a mysterious chamber in tomb, a fictional tale based on actual practice in ancient Egypt. But ancient burial rites similar to those of Egypt have also been discovered in China. During the Han Dynasty (206–220 BC), for example, a piece of jade would be put into the mouth of a dead people in the hope that he would come to life again.

In his new book, Ma Weidu explains: “It’s generally made as a jade cicada. It seems that a cicada can come from the ground, and transform itself into a totally different and new life.”

A famous Chinese antiques collector, Ma now hosts a popular TV programme on CCTV (China Central Television), sharing his experiences in antique collecting with his audience. The programme is such a success that the texts of his lectures have been put together to make a series of books, including topics such as classical furniture, chinaware, and jade.

According to Ma, jade is admired as a precious stone in China but also as a symbol for certain noble traits a person should have: “as strong as jade,” or “as warm as jade,” or “as pleasing as jade.” Just as it’s high praise to call a man “a gentleman” in western countries, a gentleman in China is described as “jade-like,” with skin as clean as jade, words as important as jade, or standing as straight as a jade tree.

So what is the most famous piece of jade artwork? “The Cabbage” undoubtedly tops any list. It is a whole piece of white-green jade, artistically carved as a cabbage. In Chinese, the pronunciation of “cabbage” (cai) is the same as “wealth” (cai). Obviously, people love the jade cabbage for its likeness, but also for the luck it supposedly brings. The original cabbage is kept in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. However, imitations can be found everywhere in the jade market.

As the founder of Guan Fu Museum, the first private museum in China, Ma insists that collectors should buy art pieces based on cultural value rather than investment value.

Ma Weidu’s Collection: Jade（《马未都说收藏：玉器篇》）

By Ma Weidu（马未都）

Zhonghua Book Company (中华书局) October 2008, 29 yuan