ABSTRACT
Islamic lands were also known for their use of jade to fashion ornamental items. Some of them are reflective of their contacts with Chinese merchants and tribute-bearing missions to Beijing. Other jade wares attested to the cultural exchange of shapes and décor between Islamic and Chinese craftsmen. The city of Khotan was located on the southern route of the Tarim Basin (modern Xinjiang) as part of the Silk Road, which had existed as prominent trading oasis for over 1,000 years. The Yuan court carefully monitored the supply of raw jade from Khotan, the sand transported from a quarry in Datong, and the work of the jade craftsmen, thereby ensuring the production of a considerable quantity of jade items. Qianlong’s court also counted among its many treasures the jade seals made specifically for the sovereign. The seal itself was fashioned from a jade stone of a greenish-white tone with veining, and it measures 12.9 centimeters.
