Back to the Stone Age ten thousand years ago, when the Magdalenians were carving a livid bison in a large cave on the continent of ancient Europe, they wouldn’t have imagined that the carved works will be enshrined as supreme artwork and the cave will be listed as a World Heritage Site.

Artworks of the early stages of civilizations are beyond imagination. Liangzhu Culture, a representative of the Neolithic cultures of China, created a tremendous amount of jades. According to the Chinese archaeologist Qin Ling, "Liangzhu jades are the acme of pre-historical stonewares. The jades excavated from Liangzhu Archaeological Site made without metal tools are unrivaled across the globe in terms of technique and artistic achievement."  

Colin Renfrew, a well-known British archaeologist, noted, "The exquisiteness of Liangzhu jades is beyond people's imagination of the late Neolithic historical sites."

The charm of Chinese jades transcends time and borders. The "In Zhejiang" English website selects nine pieces of Liangzhu jades to match with world-renowned paintings in a unique manner. As Picasso was once inspired by bison cave paintings, the small jades may also conduct dialogues, in its own language, with artworks that came after them. 

While appreciating the masterpiece, let's play a game! Can you guess the applications of each jade ware hinted by the images on the left?

Jade Jue × Girl with a Pearl Earring: Jade jue was used as earrings in the early days. A special oriental charm adds to the beauty of the European girl wearing the jade jue. 

Jade Cong × Irises: Jade cong, the most representative artifact and sacred symbol of Liangzhu Culture, has been still telling the story of ancient times. By contrast, the irises painted by Vincent Van Gogh display rhythmic beauty, expressing to a great extent the vitality of life.

Cylindrical Jade Beaded Adornments × The Birth of Venus: Cylindrical jade beaded adornments are important accessories of Liangzhu Culture, echoing the glamour of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.

Circular Jade Bead × The Milkmaid: Circular jade beads of Liangzhu Culture are smooth and delicate. As the sunshine illuminates the serene room, beads of various sizes were poured into the pot. Time freezes the moment.

Jade Bi × Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk: Jade bi is a valued sacrificial vessel in ancient China. The artwork turns on more lively features in the hands of court ladies.

Semi-finished Cong × Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow: Before the gorgeous jade cong carving was finished, this semi-finished piece is still in a geometrical shape with a circular interior and a squarish exterior. The design automatically matches with the concept of balance and order endorsed by Dutch painter Mondrian. This plain jade cong remains unfinished, from which we can sense the artistic beauty of reason.

Jade Bracelet Carved with Dragon Head × Still Life with Seven Apples: The exquisite pattern on the jade bracelet carved with dragon head creates a harmonious melody with the plump bright apples painted by French painter Cezanne.

Jade Bird × Waterlilies: The jade bird embodies the stunning imagination of Liangzhu people. The little bird flits across the pool in Monet's painting, making us wonder whether traces of wings would be left.

Jade Yuan × Roses: When Van Gogh's exuberant roses intertwine with the jade yuan, the two types of curves create integrated delicacy.

Interested in Liangzhu Culture? Check our site at: http://inzj.zjol.com.cn/Liangzhu/

(Executive Editor: Yongliu He)