Gift Shopping in China

1. Jade

Introduction

Jade has been treasured in China as a symbol of beauty and nobleness since the ancient times. Old saying goes that gold has a value while jade is invaluable. In China, jade is not only a spiritual wealth but also a material wealth. Due to the rarity of jade source and hardship in carving and polishing process, jade ranked first in wealth. Jade is the emblem of moral virtues. The unique luster and mild and gentle feature of jade made it the symbol of man’s virtue as well as a istinguisheddecoration and gift. Hence, the ancient people had a maxim of “gentleman will not leave his jade without reason.”

Today, too, jade is regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious. It embodies the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage.

1. Jade

Introduction

Jade has been treasured in China as a symbol of beauty and nobleness since the ancient times. Old saying goes that gold has a value while jade is invaluable. In China, jade is not only a spiritual wealth but also a material wealth.Due to the rarity of jade source and hardship in carving and polishing process, jade ranked first in wealth. Jade is the emblem of moral virtues. The unique luster and mild and gentle feature of jade made it the symbol of man’s virtue as well as a istinguisheddecoration and gift. Hence, the ancient people had a maxim of “gentleman will not leave his jade without reason.”

Today, too, jade is regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious. It embodies the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage.

How to Buy Jade Jewelry

• Choose a reliable place to buy. Never buy it from the street vendors. Some dealers dye quartz and sell it as Jade.
• Ask if the stone is a jadeite or nephrite mineral. Jadeite and nephrite differ in their colors and chemical compositions. Jadeite has a wider color range whereas nephrite is mainly shades of green and white, yellow and red. Jadeite is the more expensive.
• Choose a stone with pure and intense colors. Green is the most popular color and darker green hue is more expensive.
• Choose jade with a good translucency and texture.
• There are three grades of jade: A, B and C. Type-A jade is recommended since it is in its natural,untreated state and the color is considered natural because the stone hasn't undergone any artificial treatments.
• Avoid stones with visible cracks or flaws.
• Ask for formal invoice, purchasing certificate and identification certificate.

2. Shadow Play

Introduction

Shadow Play, normally called Dengyingxi (Lamp Shadow Play), is one of the oldest operas in China. It originated in the Han Dynasty, prevailed in the Tang and Song dynasties and prospered in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It derived from the art of shadow making of occultists and Taoists. Shaanxi is said to be the birthplace of shadow play. Later, it appeared in Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. In the 13th century, the conquering Mongols spread it to Central Asia and in 14th century to distant countries such as Persia, Egypt and Turkey. Shadow play gained popularity throughout the world and, with its magic combination of lights, shadows and sounds, was believed to herald the film industry.

Shadow play is made from high quality cowhide. After tanning and flattening,the skins will be carved, colored, ironed flat and bound into different shapes, which includes flower, bird, insect, animal, human being, fairy and etc. With its exquisite and unique figure, fine workmanship and dainty color, it fully shows the spirit of profound and great Chinese culture as well as the charm of folk art. Accompanied by songs, music or dialogues, the shadow play began to dance, vivid and lifelike, showing a harmonious combination of Chinese opera and folk art.

How to Buy Shadow Play

Not all the shadow plays have collection value. Only the elaborate works have the value-increasing potential. When buy a shadow play, you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Shadow plays from different regions are variable in the value and price. Shaanxi is the birthplace of shadow play. A shadow plays produced here will cost about RMB 1000. The shadow plays from Dayi county of Sichuan province mostly are priced below RMB 500. Those from the eastern Hebei province are mainly sold at the price of RMB 1000. Shanxi shadow play is about RMB 1000 and Henan shadow play is lower than RMB 400.
• The materials of shadow play include paper, donkey skin, pigskin, oxhide, sheepskin and etc. Since the donkey skin is thin and has high transparence, it is used by most craftsmen as the material. But some experts believe that the best material for shadow play is oxhide. So, consider to choose those made of donkey skin or oxhide.
• The sculpture, figure and quality are the basic elements that should be considered when buy a shadow play. Only those possessing graceful figure, superior craftsmanship and even color have collection value. From this point, the shadow plays from Shaanxi province are firstly recommended.
• The older the shadow play is, the higher the value is. But the shadow play should be complete.

3. Porcelain

Introduction

China is the hometown of porcelain and the invention of porcelain was China's great contribution to the world civilization. As early as 3000 years ago, the primitive porcelain has appeared in people’s life. The influence of Chinese porcelain is extensive and profound. In English china (porcelain) and China are the same word, indicating that the exquisite porcelain was qualified to the representative of Chinese culture.

The Chinese porcelain has a fastidious making procedure. The working procedure of porcelain includes forming, decoration, glazing, firing and etc, which were all operated by skilled workmen. Petuntse and Kaolin which are full of quartz and sericite were used as the main material for porcelain. Through these complicated procedures and strict material choosing, a porcelain masterpiece could be obtained. Chinese porcelain has won the favor and recognition of the people all over the world for thousands of years.

Today, the exquisite made Chinese porcelain, after 3000 years’ development, has undoubtedly become the sought-after porcelains favor by collectors all over the world. The porcelain, with profound historical and cultural connotation, became the outstanding symbol of Chinese traditional culture.

How to Buy Porcelain

• Get a general knowledge about the porcelain before you buy.
• Check for a maker's mark. This mark guarantees the authenticity of the piece and typically is found on the bottom or side of the plate.
• Test the quality of the article before you make your purchase. Make sure that it has no cracks and has good translucency. Translucency is a mark of fine china because it indicates clay content. If you can see your shadow behind the plate, it is most likely a good piece.
• Find the most durable pieces for your porcelain collection. It is best to buy sets that are safe to use in the microwave and dishwasher.
• Take care of your porcelain articles during your tour since it was easily to break.

4. Calligraphic Works

Calligraphy, the writing of characters, is an art which has developed over many centuries in China. Chinese characters evolved from pictograph. In the long process of evolution, Chinese character, from pictograph and symbolic letters to those of nowadays, and from oracle inscriptions and inscriptions on ancient bronze objects to various calligraphic styles, has gradually become a distinctive calligraphic art except for its practicability.

Calligraphy is not only a mea ns of communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense. It not only brings people a visual impact as plastic arts, but also embodies the Chinese nation’s spirits. We usually regard that one’s handwritings exactly behalf one’s features. As those masters wrote with brush, they usually put their life spirits into each stroke. So we can read the calligraphers’ disposition, cultural attainments and their attitude toward life: free, charming, loyal, natural, graceful and so on. People also appreciate one’s calligraphy from the writer’s temperaments.

With a history as long as that of China itself, Chinese Calligraphy is believed to be one of the highest forms of Chinese traditional art.

5. Chinese Herbal Medicine

Since the side shortcoming of modern medicine and the poisonousness of western medicine were gradually discovered, great importance was attached to traditional medicine, especially Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM aims at maintaining the balance of the body rather than curing the sickness, so it is welcomed by more and more people in western countries.

Chinese herbal medicine and TCM are inseparable. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important part of the brilliant cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. For thousands of years, it contributed a lot to the prosperity and brilliance of Chinese nation and, with its prominent curative effects, strong national features, unique diagnostic and treatment methods, systemic theoretical framework, was regarded as a common treasure of human’s medical science.

With a history of 5000 years, TCM, owing to its natural origin, less side effects and good functions in health protection, prevention, treatment and healing, enjoys a high reputation among Chinese people and, with the cognition of Chinese culture by western countries, wins more and more favor in the world.

The choice and using of herbal medicine should be based on your diagnosis report. If you have some needs, please go to see the Chinese herbal doctor and ask for help.

6. Silk

Introduction

Silk has been produced in China for over 5,000 years and was kept secret for over 3,000 years, making a great trade item. Silk, as a symbol of ancient Chinese culture, has not only weaved an excellent picture in the nation's civilization history, but also has made indelible contributions for the advancement of human beings. For thousands of years, Chinese silk has been known for its superior quality, exquisite patterns, and rich cultural connotations.

Several thousand years ago, when the silk trade first reached Europe via the Silk Road, it brought with it not only gorgeous silk apparel and decorative items, but also the ancient and resplendent culture of the Far East. From then on, silk was regarded as the emissary and symbol of Eastern civilization. And till today, silk fabrics were still regarded as one of the most Chinese articles that favored by foreigners!

How to Buy Silk

• Decide what type of silk you want. Silk comes in many different weaves and styles and they vary greatly in price.
• Measure exactly how much fabric you will need based on size. Silk is usually expensive so be exact in your measurements.
• Choose a reliable shop to buy since the quality is guaranteed.
• Take care when you buy online since you cannot touch the real fabric. Remember that final effect you see on your computer sometimes differs greatly from the real article you want. The camera that was used, the lighting or your computer monitor can distort the color of the fabric. Some online stores will send you a swatch of fabric before you buy.