Jade Landscape Carving (Myanmar / Burma)

Landscape carvings are one of the most popular subjects in jade carving, mainly based on natural landscapes such as mountains and rivers.

Since ancient times Chinese people have had a unique and profound sentiment towards:

Mountains: Earth, is the changing point of the matter. Earth is the third element in the Wu Xing cycle. Earth is a balance of both Yin and Yang, the feminine and masculine together. Its motion is centering, and its energy is stabilizing and conserving. 

Trees: Wood, is the growing of the matter, or the matter's growing stage. Wood is the first phase of Wu Xing. Wood is the lesser Yang character of the Five elements, giving birth to Fire.

Rivers: Water is the low point of the matter, or the matter's dying or hiding stage. Water is the fifth stage of Wu Xing, the five elements. Water is the most Yin in character of the five elements. Its motion is downward and inward, and its energy is stillness and conserving.