Jadeite Cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Jadeite Cabbage |
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| Artist | Unknown |
| Year | 19th century |
| Type | Jadeite sculpture |
| Dimensions | 18.7 cm × 9.1 cm (7.4 in × 3.6 in) |
| Location | National Palace Museum, Taipei |
The Jadeite Cabbage (Chinese: 翠玉白菜; pinyin: Cuìyù Báicài; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhùi-ge̍k Pe̍h-chhài) is a very famous Chinese sculpture. It is also known as the Jadeite Cabbage with Insects. This amazing artwork is made from a special green stone called jadeite. It is carefully carved to look exactly like a head of Chinese cabbage. If you look closely, you can spot a locust and a katydid hiding among its leaves! This beautiful sculpture is a treasured part of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.
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About the Jadeite Cabbage
The Jadeite Cabbage is not very big. It measures about 18.7 centimeters (7.4 inches) tall and 9.1 centimeters (3.6 inches) wide. It is only about 5.07 centimeters (2 inches) thick. It is "hardly larger than a human hand".
How it was Made
The sculpture was made from a single piece of jadeite. This jadeite stone was half white and half green. Jade is a special stone that lets light pass through it. This makes the sculpture look even more like a real cabbage. The artist used the natural colors of the jade. They also used any small cracks or different colored spots. These became the veins in the cabbage's stalks and leaves.
What the Cabbage Means
The Jadeite Cabbage is more than just a pretty sculpture. It is seen as a symbol of good qualities for women. The white stalk of the cabbage stands for purity. The green leaves show fertility, which means being able to have children. The insects, the locust and katydid, are symbols of having many children.
History of the Sculpture
We do not know who carved the Jadeite Cabbage. It was first displayed in the Yonghe Palace. This palace was the home of Consort Jin. She was a wife of the Guangxu Emperor of the Qing dynasty. She probably received the sculpture as a gift for her wedding in 1889. This type of gift is called a dowry.
Journey to Taiwan
After the Qing Empire ended in 1911, the sculpture became part of the Palace Museum. This museum was located in the Forbidden City. The Jadeite Cabbage survived many big events. It was kept safe during the Second Sino-Japanese War (part of World War II). It also survived the Chinese Civil War. Finally, it became a very important part of the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
Why it is Famous
The Jadeite Cabbage is often called the "most famous masterpiece" at the National Palace Museum. It is considered one of the "Three Treasures of the National Palace Museum." The other two famous items are the Meat-shaped Stone and the Mao Gong Ding. People even voted for it as the most important item in the museum's whole collection.
See also
In Spanish: Col de jadeíta para niños
