There are 4 types of stones produced in China which are classified as the national stones of China. They are the Chicken Blood stones from Changhua in Zhejiang, Qintian stones from Sankou in Zhejiang, Balin stones from Inner Mongolia and Shoushan stones from Fuzhou. All these stones have their own characteristic features and colours and are ideal materials for making into seals and carvings due to their soft nature and translucent appearance. They are many different varieties and grades, the best of them is the Tianhuang stones from the Shoushan region which is priced at more than ten thousand per carat. It is considered as the king of all seal materials by the Qing emperors who had many seals carved out from this yellowish translucent stone. The chicken blood stones, on the other hand, is considered as the queen of all seal materials by the Qing emperors due to the traces of magnificent red colour on the stone which resembles blood flowing out from a freshly killed chicken. There are also chicken blood stones from Balin stones in inner Mongolia. These stones have a better stone quality (translucent and crystal like) and the blood clour is fresh and fluidic in nature. Incentally carvings and seals made from this stones are highly sought after.
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| Tianhuang stone carving |
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| Blue Star carving by grand master, NiuKexi |
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| A chicken blood stone carving depicting Chairman Mao |
There are other good quality Qintian stones such as the Dengkuangtong, FongmenQin and Blue Stars which are highly sough after by collectors. Fongmenqin has a characteristic greenish yellow colour and a very translucent appearance. If you shine a torch light on the Dengkuangtong, you can see through the stone with its characteristic orange colour. It is magnificent when made into carvings. The Blue Star, on the other hand, has speckles of blue dots on a milky white stone that looks like stars on a heavenly white sky. Some grand masters took up to a few years to carve out these masterpieces of stone carvings through blending the different colours of the stones with their artistic talent and skills in stone carving. Most of these stone carvings are national treasures and they are not for sale.
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| Fongmenqin carving by Nietongfang |
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| Crystal clear stone carving from Shoushan |
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| Shoushan stone carving |
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| Balin chicken blood carving by a grand master |
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Dengkuangtong carving
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