Jade dragon from the Warring States period

The Warring States period (475-221 BCE) may have been a politically tumultuous era in Chinese history, culture kept thriving. The craft of jade carving, for instance, was flourishing. This is perfectly exemplified by this carved-jade dragon.

Though small in size (4.1 x 3.2 cm), this translucent figure demonstrates the amazing jade-carving prowess in the Warring States period. Take a closer look at the V-shaped patterns on its body: there are 4 to 5 lines carved per millimeter. Impressive craftsmanship!

[Source: Shanghai Museum]