Gold cicada on a jade leaf
Among 4.2 million collections in the Nanjing Museum, the “gold cicada on a jade leaf” could be called as the nonesuch in arts and crafts. A vivid cicada with a sheen of gold is staying on a glittering and translucent leaf. Wings of this cicada are 1.7 cm long, about 0.8 cm wide, and they are only 0.2 millimeter thick - like two little pieces of gold organdie. The leaf is 5.2 cm long, 3.2 cm wide, and 0.2 cm thick, and is made out of first class jade from Hetian in Xinjiang provience.
In 1954, this “gold cicada on a jade leaf” was found near the head of the deceased in a tomb of the Ming dynasty; together with it were two silver hairpins and four headwears, showing that it is a kind of hairpin used by females to fasten their hair.
“Gold cicada on a jade leaf” is called “jinchanyuye” in Chinese. “Zhi” means cicada, and cicada is also be called as “zhiliao” in China. So it can be called “jinzhiyuye” (indicates one of noble birth). For ancient Chinese females, there is no praise higher than “jinzhiyuye.” This collection is the masterpiece of the 2nd half of 15th century and is also the only one excavated in China.
By: Liu Fang
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