What two interwoven revolutions created the Sung Dynasty?

Inside China

National Geographic®

More about Inside China
Exotic China has always attracted great photographers, and its history has yielded unforgettable scenes. Inside China unveils fascinating archival images rarely made public: Luminaries Henri Cartier-Bresson and Margaret Bourke-White portray the old order and the ascendancy of Chairman Mao; Chinese news photographer Li Zhensheng gives startling new insight into the harsh Cultural Revolution. Today's China, filled with excitement and fraught with challenge, is captured by contemporary photographers including Mark Leong, Paolo Pellegrin, and Mark Henley—who, with privileged access, depict fashionable youth and glamour, the development of mega-industry, and new materialism alongside traditional religion and rural life, revealing the rapidly changing scene in all its complexity. Five renowned experts on China—Jonathan Spence, James Watt, James MacGregor, Elizabeth Economy, and Minxin Pei—narrate and enrich the story with informative, thought-provoking essays.

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Carved Jade Chinese Necklace

National Geographic®

About Chinese Jade
Jade has been used in China since Neolithic times, as weapons and other utilitarian items as well as ceremonial emblems. The Chinese word for jade is most often translated as yü, although that term can mean any number of precious stones. In fact, more than one type of stone is rightfully called jade, with nephrite being considered ''true jade,'' and a softer stone, jadeite, being considered an equally high quality substitute.

The ancients depicted heaven with a perforated jade disk, through which it was believed that the emperor could commune with the gods. For the average man, jade represented excellence and purity. Alchemists tried to produce a potion from ground jade—the elixir of life—that would grant immortality.

In Confucius's 2nd century ''Book of Rites,'' Li-Ki, he writes, ''In ancient times, men found the likeness of all excellent qualities in jade. Soft, smooth, and strong—like intelligence; angular, but not sharp and cutting—like righteousness; …when struck, yielding a note, clear and prolonged, yet terminating abruptly—like music; its flaws not concealing its beauty, nor its beauty concealing its flaws—like loyalty; with an internal radiance issuing from it on every side—like good faith…''

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Here, colorful faceted amethyst and peridot alternate within links of high-gloss enamel and intricate 24-karat gold-vermeil filigree to create an accent fit for a queen. Handmade in China. 3/4''W x 7 1/2''L.  Click here.

What is vermeil?
Vermeil (ver-MAY) is a metal frequently used in jewelry where sterling silver is coated with gold. It was originally produced in France in the mid 18th century.

The material also gave the Vermeil Room in the White House its name. In 1958, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower had an elaborate gold vermeil (also called gilt silver) tableset, a gift from mining heiress Margaret Thompson Biddle, displayed in glass vitrines there.

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Marco Polo Gemstone Earrings

National Geographic®

What is vermeil?
Vermeil (ver-MAY) is a metal frequently used in jewelry where sterling silver is coated with gold. It was originally produced in France in the mid 18th century.

The material also gave the Vermeil Room in the White House its name. In 1958, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower had an elaborate gold vermeil (also called gilt silver) tableset, a gift from mining heiress Margaret Thompson Biddle, displayed in glass vitrines there.

What is Garnet?
The fiery red gemstone of January, garnet actually describes a range of stones and colors. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all considered it the traveler's stone for the belief that it could protect the wearer from evil. Although some of the most striking examples are found in Africa, garnet from Bohemia was much in demand during the 18th century, when designs often featured many small stones set in clusters like pomegranate seeds. Today artisans in jewelry-making centers in India, Indonesia, Russia, and elsewhere use garnet—fiery red, earthen brown, and even a brilliant green favored by Tiffany and Faberge—to create vintage- and ethnically inspired new designs.

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More about Marco Polo
The Polos set out for China in 1271, traveling through the Middle East, across the Gobi Desert, to Khanbaliq in China. The journey took four years. Kublai Khan took a great liking to Marco Polo, employing him as a spy throughout his vast empire. Marco traveled and observed the cultures of Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and India in this capacity. His notes later became one of the world's great travel books, The Description of the World.

The Kid's Shop from National Geographic!

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening. Can also be used as a landscape tree in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7, which includes New England, the Midatlantic states, and much of the Midwest.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Tree will be approximately 8"H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research.  Click here to get your Wollemi Pine and assist in the conservation effort.

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