White Jade Lingzhi 白玉靈芝

Size: 22 cm X 4 cm
 
White Jade Lingzhi typically refers to a jade artifact carved in the shape of a lingzhi mushroom, which symbolizes longevity, good fortune, and health in Chinese culture.
Material: White jade usually refers to the white variety of Hetian jade, known for its fine texture, warm luster, and creamy or mutton-fat white color, often with a smooth, oily sheen.
Shape: Lingzhi-shaped jade artifacts mimic the natural form of the lingzhi mushroom (a medicinal fungus), featuring an umbrella-like cap (round or semicircular) and a slender stem. Carvings may include ruyi cloud patterns, auspicious clouds, or other lucky motifs to emphasize its symbolic meaning.
Carving Style: Lingzhi-shaped jade objects are commonly seen in the Ming-Qing period (1368-1912), with intricate and detailed carvings, often using openwork or relief techniques to highlight the layered texture of the lingzhi.
Purpose: White jade lingzhi pieces are often used as decorative items, pendants, or gifts, symbolizing longevity and good fortune. They were frequently used in imperial courts or among nobility, and sometimes as ritual objects in Daoism or Buddhism.
Symbolism of Lingzhi: In China, lingzhi is known as the "immortal herb," associated with longevity, health, and spiritual energy since ancient times. It frequently appears in Daoist culture and mythology (e.g., as a symbol of the Daoist deity Taishang Laojun or the God of Longevity).
Status of White Jade: Due to its pure color and warm texture, white jade is regarded as a symbol of nobility and purity in Chinese culture, often linked to refined taste and authority.
 
「白玉靈芝」通常是指以白玉雕刻而成的靈芝形玉器，靈芝在中國文化中象徵長壽、吉祥和健康。
材質：白玉通常指和田玉中的白色品種，質地細膩，色澤溫潤，常帶有輕微的乳白色或羊脂白色，表面光滑且有油脂光澤。
形制：靈芝形玉器多模仿靈芝（一種藥用真菌）的自然形態，呈傘狀，頂部有圓形或半圓形的菌蓋，底部為細長的菌柄。雕刻時可能會加入如意雲紋、祥雲或其他吉祥圖案，突出其象徵意義。
雕刻風格：靈芝形玉器常見於明清時期（1368-1912年），雕刻精細，注重細節，常以透雕或浮雕技法表現靈芝的層次感。
用途：白玉靈芝多作為擺件、佩飾或禮物，象徵長壽和吉祥，常在宮廷或貴族間使用，也可能作為道教或佛教的法器。
2. 文化背景與象徵意義
靈芝的象徵：靈芝在中國被稱為「仙草」，自古以來與長壽、健康和仙氣相關，常出現在道教文化和神話傳說中（如太上老君或壽星老的象徵物）。
白玉的地位：白玉因其純淨的色澤和溫潤的質感，在中國文化中被視為高貴與純潔的象徵，常與高雅品味和權力聯繫在一起。