What is lapis lazuli? Lapis lazuli is an opaque or translucent semi-precious stone, which is blue, purple or blue-green. The countries that produce lapis lazuli jade in the world mainly include Afghanistan, Chile, Russia, Tajikistan, the United States and Canada. Lapis lazuli is the national stone of Afghanistan. Saresange deposit, located in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, is the world's oldest source of high-quality lapis lazuli raw materials and the most famous ancient mineral material.
Lapis lazuli is a multi-mineral aggregate, that is, it is composed of a variety of minerals mixed together, so we often see lapis lazuli products with white, black, translucent or gold impurities. Is the gold impurity in it pyrite or lapis lazuli? Kim. . The more impurities, the greater the impact on the aesthetics of lapis lazuli products. What about the market? No gold, no white? Lapis lazuli is more expensive. If pyrite is evenly distributed and star-shaped, it will bring different aesthetic feeling to lapis lazuli, which is also recognized by the market.
Ancient lapis lazuli is a symbol of power and wealth in foreign countries. In ancient times when there were no chemical dyes, all colors came from nature. Although common and easily available plants have bright colors, the dyed colors can't last long. This makes all minerals that are not easy to fade and have natural colors particularly popular. Lapis lazuli is one of them. It has won the love of people all over the world for its brilliant blue.
Lapis lazuli in ancient Egypt is equivalent to gold, and there are many lapis lazuli funerary ornaments among the cultural relics unearthed in Egypt. Lapis lazuli frequently appears in ancient Babylonian poems, such as the sin of the moon god, which is described by such a divine comedy: Strong as a bull, with a big horn, a perfect figure, long hair on his forehead and protruding like lapis lazuli. ? Even in modern times with advanced technology, turquoise and coral are precious stones, while in ancient India, ancient Iran and other countries, lapis lazuli is as famous as turquoise and coral. In ancient Greece and Rome, wearing lapis lazuli was considered as a sign of wealth.
Lapis lazuli is also ground into powder and made into pigment. During the Renaissance, lapis lazuli was used in many world-famous oil paintings. Medieval monks also used it to decorate manuscripts. The pigment made of lapis lazuli is very expensive, and the works that need it are also very expensive. Initiating such a work commission is considered as a Peugeot with money.
Lapis lazuli is a symbol of imperial majesty in Chinese history, and its earliest use is still controversial. Gong Yu recorded that as early as 4,000 years ago in the Xia Dynasty, Yongzhou in the west paid tribute to the central dynasty, and Yulin was the Persian transliteration of celestite. Zhang also supported this statement in Shi Ya, but it was not confirmed because there was no archaeological discovery. At present, the oldest lapis lazuli products unearthed in China were unearthed from the tomb of Zeng Houyi in the Spring and Autumn Period. Wang Yuejian, another national treasure unearthed in the Spring and Autumn Period, is also inlaid with lapis lazuli.
The color of lapis lazuli is considered as the color of the sky. Color like the sky? Statement. ? Heaven? It has supreme majesty in our culture, and the ancient emperors of China claimed to be? Tianzi? So lapis lazuli has a close relationship with emperors since ancient times. According to the Canon of Qing Dynasty, the emperor made the Temple of Heaven out of lapis lazuli, amber earth altar, coral temple of heaven and turquoise moon altar. Dai Chao, the Temple of Heaven is decorated with lapis lazuli, the altar with topaz, the altar with coral and the moon altar with white jade? . It means that the beads and belts worn by the emperor at the sacrificial ceremony are all made of lapis lazuli. Not only that, lapis lazuli is also considered to be able to communicate with heaven and earth and let the dead ascend to heaven. Celestite was buried with him. With its green color, it leads to the road to heaven, so use it? Therefore, lapis lazuli is often used to make funerary objects for emperors.
Why do modern people like lapis lazuli? It is recorded in "Shiya":? The color of lapis lazuli is like the sky, or the gold scraps are scattered brilliantly. Are the stars in the sky beautiful? . A dazzling array of idioms? Lynn. It means lapis lazuli. There are three reasons for China people to regain their enthusiasm for lapis lazuli:
First, although jade culture has always been the mainstream in China, lapis lazuli is deep and noble in color and made into exquisite jewelry. In recent years, with the improvement of people's aesthetic level and economic ability, their understanding of lapis lazuli is gradually deepening, and they will naturally be attracted by its cultural connotation.
Secondly, lapis lazuli is one of the seven treasures of Buddhism and the embodiment of Tibetan Buddhist pharmacist Buddha. In particular, ornaments made of lapis lazuli beads often wear Buddhist blessings for peace and health, hoping for good wishes of no disease and no disaster.
Thirdly, lapis lazuli is a very spiritual object, which contains rare minerals that can improve eyesight, soothe the nerves and enhance its elegant temperament. Wearing lapis lazuli jewelry often can relieve people's insomnia and anxiety symptoms, and also has a health care effect on headache and dizziness.