Product Description
CHINESE MING DYNASTY TRANSLUCENT WHITE JADE DRAGON HUAN BI CARVING DEPICTING 5 PAWS DRAGON IN THE WHEEL.
BROWN AND RUSSET INCLUSIONS AND VEINS. SOME STONE EROSION ON A WHEEL.
SIZE: 8.75 CM DIAMETER, 1 CM THICK.
NOTE: THE FIRST MING EMPEROR COPIED THE YUAN RULING AND DECREED THAT THE DRAGON WOULD BE HIS EMBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE FIVE TOES (OR CLAWS).
THE FOUR-CLAWED DRAGON WAS TYPICALLY FOR IMPERIAL NOBILITY AND CERTAIN HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS.
THE THREE CLAWED DRAGON WAS USED BY LOWER RANKS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC (WIDELY SEEN ON VARIOUS CHINESE MING DYNASTY OBJECTS).