The Research On Tradition Of Chinese Jades Culture

Since the Neolithic Age, China has enjoyed the special jades culture and tradition. The dissertation analyzes the substance and characteristics of Chinese culture from the Neolithic Age to contemporary era. The dissertation focuses on property of eternal divinity, value, status and power forms of social culture. Applying the methods on sociology, science of culture and art researches, the dissertation divides tradition of Chinese jades culture into three types. It is one type of ancient tradition that the union of divinity and human becomes a patriarchal structure. In the traditional society, the second type of classical tradition mirrors the power and will in ruling class, and reflects Bi-de idea in different social group. In the modern times, as the third type, it is the vital characteristics of popular consumption and fashion imagery.On the basis of documentary evidences, material objects, fairy tales,and folk customs, the dissertation deduces two possible conclusions. One is the transition from ancient union of divinity and human to a patriarchal and structural form, in essence, the theme of image reflects their faith from adoring gods to forefathers. The other is the divinity emblem expressing the historical record with artistic forms in prelogical thought. By employing the theory of fractals and analyzing Zhouli, the dissertation shows clearly a major reason and the significant influence that a patriarchal and structural form represents the cultural tradition of upholding"Zong"idea.Discussing the discourse power of jades culture in the Chinese traditional society, the dissertation indicates that to gift and keep the jades plays important roles in consolidating the social position, maintaining the social relationship, and strengthening the discourse power. Moreover, the dissertation puts forward three main opinions. Firstly,"the imperial jade seal for power"and"the jades adornments on costume for rite"are proved to be the rightful symbols. Secondly, Bi-de idea is the inheritance of old moral concepts tradition in the Western Zhou Period. Thirdly, the meaning of Bi-de symbols has developed and changed, also so-called"Jun-zi"expands to more extensive social group, such as bureaucrat, gentry, and refined scholar following the imperial examination system.In view of illustration on social and cultural changes in modern times, the dissertation concludes that jades not only have become the popular consumption goods, but also being the commodity signifying the economic, cultural and social capital. Through the investigations and analysis, the dissertation raises that popular consumption dissolves and removes the meaning of traditional divinity and classical property, but the new extensions and annotations on them have arisen.