Many countries boast a jade ware culture, but none of them can match China's long jade ware history. In China, jade ware underwent a long process of development beginning from the New Stone Age 10,000 years ago.
The patterns of China's jade ware have rich connotations, revealing strong, auspicious colours. Bats and gourds were used as subjects for more than 100 patterns because the Chinese words "bat" and "gourd" sound like "good fortune" in Chinese. When a bat was carved on an ancient coin with a hole, it meant that fortune was at hand; bats coupled with birthday peaches referred to fortune and longevity; bats mixed with sika, birthday peaches and magpies were also considered good omens. These beliefs reflected the ancient Chinese people's yearning for a happy life and revealed the essence of China's traditional culture.
Jade in China is varied and can be divided into two categories: hard and soft jade. Good materials provide a strong basis for jade ware carving, but the value of a jade object depends on the skills and reputation of the craftsman, date of carving, peculiar modelling and the owner's status. Certainly, different people will have various views on the value of the same jade object. It is difficult to have a unanimous standard. Due to the high value of ancient jade ware, there is an equally long tradition of fake jade ware, which looks very much like the real thing. Jade ware collectors should be careful and seek the opinions of professionals before making any major purchases.
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