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Field Cave Stone
|
Water Cave Stone
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Tianhuang |
Shoushan Rivulet
|
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Crystal Bacon |
Keng Tou Crystal Cave
|
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Tianhuang Bacon |
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Fish Brain Bacon |
|
Red Tianhuang |
|
Kengtou Bacon |
|
Golden-Skinned Silver |
|
Buffalo's Horn Bacon |
Keng Tou Cave
|
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|
Golden-Skinned Silver |
|
Keng tou |
|
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Gao Shan Mountain
|
Shan Bo Mountain
|
|
Hencoop |
Taiji mountain
|
suit inunction
|
Shan Bo Cave |
Shanbo Mountain
|
suit cerated
|
|
Lyhee Cave |
suit inunction
|
Multi-Colored Shanbo Cave |
suit cerated |
|
Gaoshan Bacon |
Gaoshan mountain
|
suit inunction
|
Silver-Skinned Golden Shanbo Cave |
suit cerated |
|
Gaoshan Stone |
suit inunction
|
Yuewei |
Yuewei Mountain
|
suit cerated |
|
Peach Blossom Bacon |
suit inunction
|
Purple Yuewei |
suit cerated |
|
Jia Liang Mountain
|
Qi Jiang Mountain
|
|
Furong |
Jia Liang Mountaintop
|
suit cerated |
LaoLing |
Laoling Mountain
|
suit cerated |
|
Zui Furong |
suit cerated |
Qijang |
Qijiang Mountain
|
suit cerated |
|
Multi-Colored Furong |
suit cerated |
Quarried Qijang |
Qijiang Mountain Mantlerock
|
suit cerated |
|
Red Furong |
suit cerated |
Silver-Skinned Golden Qijiang |
Qijiang Mountain
|
suit cerated |
|
Yellow Furong |
suit cerated |
White-Skinned Red Qijiang |
suit cerated |
|
Folk
tale
| Legend has it that Shoushan stone is the gem bestowed upon Fujian from heaven. Outshining other Chinese precious stone by its fine texture, greasy luster and brilliant colors, Shoushan stone is highly praised as "the stone of stones" and "the gem of China". Of all varieties of Shoushan stone, Tianhuang stone comes first. One saying goes like that 100 kilograms of Tianhuang stone is worth 300 kilograms of gold. According to researches, Shoushan stone was utilized as early as 4000 years ago in Fuzhou and the carving of this stone began 1500 years ago. In the Southern Song Dynasty, there was mining on a large scale. During the period between the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, emperors would offer Fujian Shoushan Tianhuang stone as a sacrifice to worship Heaven, because of the stone's auspicious name embodying "Fu, Shou, tian" which mean in Chinese "fortune , longevity and land". Among many beautiful tales about its origin, one has it that Shoushan stone is the colorful stone left by Nuwa the legendary human maker after she, mended the sky, while another has it that the stone is formed from Shoushan soil nourished by the egg of the phoenix. |
| Down through the ages, the exploitation, processing and utilization of Shoushan stone have developed greatly with the efforts of Shoushan stone carvers and lovers. Reflecting the artistic beauty as well as the beauty of natural scenery and people's life and spirit, it outstands with unique charm. It used to be the ideal material for seals of emperors and high-ranking officials, and has been praised by scholars and literati in their poems and essays. Many famous carvers make Shoushan stone carving as their career, while a good many ordinary people enjoy collecting the stone from which they find great delight. A rich Shoushan stone culture has thus gradually taken shape involving collecting, appreciating seal knob carving and seal cutting, as well as related calligraphy, poetry, essays and picture albums. Extensive and profound. the culture boasts a long history and features not only the local Minyue (mainly in Fujian) culture, but also Central Plains Han culture. Besides, it is the spiritual bond linking national feelings of the Chinese at home and abroad, playing the special function of promoting the exchanges of culture and trade across the Taiwan Straits. Now Shoushan stone and its carving are not only valuable collections in regions of Hong Kong, Marco, and Taiwan and countries such as Japan, South Korea and those in southeast Asia, But also fine presents for leaders and friends in other countries. |
| Down through the ages, Shoushan stone culture has come to be part of the Chinese culture and developed into a splendid traditional art widely received at home and abroad. In the five-year competition for the national stone of China, which began in 1999, Fujian Shoushan stone is finally singled out with its special charm to top the six candidate stone. |
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