In traditional China, jade was known as the “stone of heaven,” and symbolized human virtues due to its grace, durability, and beauty. A jewelry designer in Taiwan is seeking to bring jade ornaments back into fashion as part of a revival of China’s ancient culture.
Wang Peinan is holding a jade ornament design exhibit at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei through May 13. Wang has been interested in Chinese culture since a young age, and developed a fascination for the jade ornaments worn by Chinese ladies in ancient times. This led her to create modern accessories using jade pieces that she has collected over the years.
She told The Epoch Times that jade ornaments were highly fashionable in ancient China, but have mostly been forgotten these days. “I think this is a shame. With a little redesigning and processing, these jade pieces can become just as fashionable as they were in the olden days.”
Wang’s designs seem to bring these ancient pieces back to life. Each one is a unique masterpiece, with metalwork and gemstones that naturally complement the jade.
Wang’s grandfather, Wang Guangqing, was a renowned calligrapher, and her brother is a well-known ink painter. She studied the art of floral arranging, both Chinese and western, for 20 years, and believes that the traditional Chinese arts are very broad-minded, and natural.
“Art is a style of living,” she said, adding that jade represents the culture of the period, when it was popularized by the royal ladies of the palace. She said her works symbolize her memories and aspirations in life, and that people must experience Chinese culture in real life to be able to appreciate it.
Wang hopes the traditional values and aesthetics of ancient China will be brought back into the lives of modern people.
Translation by Virginia Wu. Written in English by Cassie Ryan.
