Gold is as old as the history of man himself, and China was one of the first countries in the world to mine gold and manufacture beautiful articles out of it.This book gives a detailed description of the sources of Chinese gold, the toil of Chinese prospectors, famous items of gold ware and veteran gold craftsmen.

Preface

Chapter 1 Where Does Gold Come From?  001

China, One of the Earliest Countries Mining Gold   002

Sources of Gold in Ancient China  006

Panning for Gold  010

Chapter 2 Gold Jewelry in the Shang end

     Zhou Dynasties  011

Shang Dynasty Gold Utensils and Vessels   012

Gold Vessels and Utensils Unearthed at Sanxingdui and Jinsha   015

Gold Vessels of the Western Zhou Dynasty  020

Chapter 3 Spring and Autumn and Warring States

      Periods-The Early Years of Gold

      Luxury Goods  023

Gold Objects Found in China's Central Plains   024

Gold Cup from Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng  027

Gold-handled Swords and Belt Hooks Unearthed at Yimen Village  029

Xiongnu Gold Crown  032

Chapter 4 Gold Ware in Qin and Han Dynasties, and

      Its Magical Significance  035

Gold Ware of the Qin Dynasty  036

Han Dynasty Jade Burial Suit Sewn with Fine Gold Threads   038

Gold Seals and the Seal Engraving Art of the Han Dynasty  040

Han Dynasty Gold Coins   044

Funeral Objects from Officials' Tombs  046

Chapter 5 Objects with Western Characteristics

     from the Wei and Jin and Southern

     and Northern Dynasties Periods  053

Gold Collections of the Aristocracy   054

Utensils and Vessels with a Foreign Flavor   058

The Coming of Buddhism  062

Chapter 6 Tang Dynasty, the Heyday of Gold Artistry  065

Property of the Rich and Powerful   066

Tea and Buddhism   069

Gold Objects Presented to the Tang Emperors  073

The Aesthetics of Gold  075

Decorative Patterns  077

Cream of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty  079

Emergence of the South  081

Chapter 7 Gold Wares in the Song and Liao

      Dynasties  083

Slim, Changeable and Antique in Form   084

Simple and Poetic Decorative Patterns   086

Gold for Decorative, Daily-life and Buddhist Use   091

Creative Craftsmanship  093

Gold Ware of the Liao Dynasty  094

Golden-winged Bird from the Kingdom of Dali   100

Chapter 8 Gold Jewelry from the Yuan and

      Ming Dynasties, Heyday of Veteran

      Craftsmen  101

Rise of Handicraft Workshops   102

Unique Products   104

Luxury Jewelry  106

Vessels with Gold and Jade Inlay  110

Chapter 9 Flying Dragons and the Qing Dynasty

Imperial Ceremonial Objects   114

Imperial Treasures   120

Imperial Tableware  123

Imperial Buddhist Ceremonial Objects  124

Gold Seals of the Qing Dynasty  126

Gold and China's National Ethics  128