This double sided Jade necklace has a beautifully carved dragon on the front fighting a snake above his head. It is deeply etched in the perfect thickness, oblong jade. The backside is carved with a large leaf and symbols. The pendant is strung on alternating color and size jade beads.
Gemstones: Grade Jade Untreated
Color: Green, yellow, dark green
Measurements of beads: 8.5 - 4 mm
Dimensions: 2.64 " x 1.4" (67.1 x 35.2 x 6.8 mm including bail)
Metal: sterling silver clasp
Markings:
Material: Carved Natural Jadeite Jade Unenhanced
Circa: Pre 1990 or earlier
Weight: 45.5 grams
Condition Rating:
*http://www.chinasage.info/symbols/animals.htm
*"Dragon 龙 lóng
Dragons are so important and pervasive in Chinese culture we have dedicated a whole section to this flying animal. In brief summary, the dragon is the mightiest of creatures, master of rain and water and usually good-natured. It has a prestigious place in the astrological years and serves as a symbol principally of the emperor and therefore the top of the pyramid of animals. When shown with a phoenix it represents emperor and empress - the foremost married couple; with a phoenix the two together represent ‘animals and birds’ and so wildlife in general.
Ancient belief ties the dragon to the bringing of life-giving rain in the form of master of the storm clouds. In appearance it is more serpent-like than the Western version and is usually portrayed among the clouds.
龙飞凤舞Lóng fēi fèng wǔ A dragon's flight and a phoenix's dance - very powerful and invigorating.
Flamboyant. Lively and vigorous.
强龙难压地头蛇Qiáng lóng nán yā dì tóu shé Even a dragon finds it difficult to conquer a snake in its lair
Knowledge of local area and people gives them a distinct advantage even against a strong enemy.
一龙生九种,种种不同Yī lóng shēng jiǔ zhǒng, zhǒng zhǒng bù tóng The dragon has nine sons, each different from the others
Brothers and sisters may not resemble each other."
"Snake 蛇 shé
snake
Sculpture in Tazishan Park - Chengdu, China. Artist unknown. Reproduction of this artwork is permitted by the "freedom of panorama" in China. Image by Daderot ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
The character for a snake uses the radical for insect 虫 chóng followed by a pictogram of a cobra rising on its tail. It is one the five noxious creatures with centipede, gecko, scorpion and toad.
A snake is one of the twelve astrological year animals. Snakes are considered wise and cunning but treacherous. As a snake sloughs its skin it can symbolize transformation. It also symbolizes fertility and flexibility and the female yin element. The ancient deities Fuxi and Nuwa are often portrayed with snake-like lower halves. There are not that many venomous snakes in China, the few that remain are in Guangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong. There is a legend of the 白蛇 bái shé ‘White snake’ in Hangzhou that transformed into a woman who then married a man, a monk who then saw through her disguise and had her confined to a pagoda but not before a son was born who rose to become a great scholar.
The meat of the snake is eaten quite widely and it is a common ingredient in traditional medicine particularly snake liver. Snake meat is considered to be good for maintaining sharp eyesight and snakeskin is a popular lucky"
