Stone in stone, after the blood of the rooster

Author: Qian Gaichao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The Tianhuang stone, Furong stone, and Chanhua bloodstone from Shoushan are considered the top among all seal stones due to their excellent quality and noble colors, and are known as the "Three Treasures of Seal Stones." These three national treasure-grade seal stones are also celebrated as the "King of Stones" (Tianhuang), the "Queen of Stones" (Bloodstone), and the "Nobleman of Stones" (Furong). This book features hundreds of exquisite new Chanhua bloodstone pieces, including sculptures, pendants, stone ornaments, raw stone sculptures, and various seals, offering valuable inspiration for seal carvers and providing beautiful illustrations and collectible artworks for seal stone enthusiasts.
Chanhua bloodstone is a unique and precious gemstone in China, renowned for its vibrant, blood-like red hues and the natural elegance of jade. It has long been cherished alongside jade and jadeite, earning the reputation of a "National Treasure" both domestically and internationally. It is mined from Yuyanshan in the northern part of the "Western Zhejiang Tourism Valley" in Changhua, Lin'an County, Zhejiang Province. Chanhua bloodstone formed 75 million years ago during volcanic activity and has a history of discovery and mining spanning over 1,000 years. Its widespread use flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
During the Ming Dynasty, Chanhua bloodstone crafts became treasured possessions in the imperial palace and the British Museum. In the Qing Dynasty, emperors and empresses from Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Xuantong selected Chanhua bloodstone to carve their imperial seals. In modern times, Chairman Mao Zedong owned and treasured two large Chanhua bloodstone seals, and Premier Zhou Enlai chose Chanhua bloodstone as a state gift for former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka. Many cultural luminaries, such as Guo Moruo, Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, Pan Tianshou, Qian Juntao, and Ye Qianyu, have shared a deep connection with Chanhua bloodstone. Today, a fervor for collecting, studying, and trading Chanhua bloodstone is sweeping across China. The culture of Chanhua bloodstone is celebrated across five continents, especially in Southeast Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, as well as the global Chinese community.
The natural beauty of Chanhua bloodstone stems from its composition as a of cinnabar, kaolinite, diaspore, and other minerals. Cinnabar is the primary component of the "blood," appearing in shades of bright red, deep red, purplish red, pale red, and in forms such as clusters, bands, and specks. Kaolinite and diaspore are the main components of the stone's texture, exhibiting colors like white, yellow, red, green, and brown, as well as states of translucence, semi-translucence, and opacity. Chanhua bloodstone is classified into four major categories—frozen ground, soft ground, hard ground, and very hard ground—each with over 100 varieties, based on color, transparency, luster, and hardness.
Evaluating Chanhua bloodstone involves two key factors: the "blood" and the texture. The quality is primarily determined by the amount and vibrancy of the blood color, as well as the transparency, warmth, and fineness of the texture. The more abundant and vivid the blood color, the clearer, more spiritual, and smoother the texture, the more beautiful and valuable the stone becomes.
The primary artistic uses of Chanhua bloodstone are for carving seals, creating craftworks, and displaying raw stones. Among all seal stones, Chanhua bloodstone is one of China's "Three Treasures of Seal Stones" and has earned the title of the "Queen of Seal Stones" for its captivating beauty, making unique contributions to the development of Chinese seal culture. It has also given rise to a distinctive school of "bloodstone carving" in Chinese jade carving, renowned for its works that are described as "magnificent, elegant, exquisite, and numerous."
Since 1999, Chanhua bloodstone has been one of the top choices for China's National Stone selection. Gemstone experts call it the "National Treasure of China." The hundreds of newly produced Chanhua bloodstone pieces featured in this book, including sculptures, pendants, stone ornaments, raw stone sculptures, and various seals, will serve as excellent references for seal carvers and provide highly valuable works of art and collectibles for enthusiasts.