Ancient Chinese Jewelry

In early Chinese designs we see that the dragon and phoenix were very popular. Even today, they are.

The dragon represents the primal force of nature and is associated with wisdom and longevity. The "Five clawed dragon" was a symbol of Chinese emperors, while the phoenix represented the empress.

The earrings were the most popular jewelry worn by both men and women. Their designs were quite complex.

Women, especially of the royal class wore strips of gold on their forehead, some what like a tiara. They were mostly gold adorned with precious stones.

Feathers, especially blue kingfisher feathers were used to adorn royal crowns. Amulets were common too and they were worn for protection from the evil.

Silver was the dominant metal, modest amount of gold and bronze were used too. But their most favorite material was jade

Jade was ascribed with human like attributes, such as beauty and toughness blended with the softest hue. Chinese Emperial Jade was the most prized material in Ancient Chinese Jewelry designs.

Jade was a status symbol. They believed it protected the wearer. They say, “Gold can me measured but jade is priceless.”

Blue was their favorite color in jewelry designs. It symbolized royalty. Blue enameling and cloisonne ornaments were created for the royal family with much care. Blue Kingfisher feathers adorned the royal jewelry head pieces.

Like the Egyptians, Chinese believed in after life too. Rulers and high class officers were buried with gold, silver and precious jade artifacts to provide the dead and protect them in their after life journey.

Some royalty were even buried with a full suite made of green jadeite.

Here are some pictures that I had captured from my trip to Beijing in 2009

Buried silver artifacts for royal after life



Ancient Chinese jewelry designs show evidence of the use of sophisticated tools and milling machines.

The famous “Silk Route” interconnected the West with ancient China through trade. By the 3rd millennium BC, semi precious gems like lapis lazuli, ivory, jade along with beeswax, camphor and musk made their way to the west from China via Borneo and India.

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