Question 1

What is rush-mat pattern jade?

Accepted Answer

It is jade decorated with puwen (蒲纹), a repeated mat-like field of grooves and raised units. Many examples have six-sided or softened faceted forms, especially on bi discs from the Warring States and Han periods.

Question 2

What does puwen jade mean?

Accepted Answer

Puwen connects the familiar comfort of a woven mat with the dignity of jade. Traditional ritual commentary links mats with giving people ease. Today, the design carries wishes for a peaceful home, steady work, and a life held together by care.

Question 3

Is puwen the same as grain pattern or raised-boss pattern?

Accepted Answer

Puwen emphasizes a woven-looking arrangement and often faceted units. Grain pattern, guwen (谷纹), has curled or sprouting-seed forms. Raised-boss pattern, rudingwen (乳钉纹), has rounded projections. A carved field can combine features, so look at both each unit and the grooves around it.

Question 4

Does every puwen pattern form a perfect hexagonal grid?

Accepted Answer

Six-sided raised units are characteristic of many puwen carvings. Their shape depends on groove placement and finishing. The commonly mentioned three directions at 60° describe part of the layout, while the finished surface can include other small spaces and a visible background network.

Question 5

What does “nan zhi pu bi” mean in the Rites of Zhou?

Accepted Answer

“男执蒲璧” means that the holder of the nan noble rank, conventionally translated as baron, holds a pu bi. Nan is a title in the ceremonial hierarchy. The passage associates a particular jade emblem with that rank.

Question 6

Are all rush-mat jade bi discs from the Han dynasty?

Accepted Answer

Puwen also appears on later jades. The National Palace Museum, for example, dates a disc with puwen on one side and raised bosses on the other to the Southern Song, 1127–1279. The museum date belongs to the individual object, alongside any later inscription or mount.

Question 7

Is puwen jade a meaningful housewarming gift?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Its connection with mats makes it a warm way to wish someone a welcoming home and a settled life. A modern pendant or small decorative piece can accompany the blessing 安居乐业, peaceful living and fulfilling work, or 平安如意, safety and wishes fulfilled.

Question 8

How can I appreciate the carving more closely?

Accepted Answer

Look at a clear museum image from more than one angle. Follow a raised unit, the channels around it, and the point where the pattern meets a circular border. Side lighting often reveals relief that looks like simple dots in a frontal view.

Ancient Jade Motifs

Rush-Mat Pattern Jade Meaning: Puwen and a Peaceful Home

Grain Pattern Jade Meaning: Guwen, Growth, and Abundance

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