Guyu tupu 古玉圖譜

Guyu tupu 古玉圖譜 is an illustrated catalogue of ancient jades of the imperial collection compiled during the Song period 宋 (960-1279) under the supervision of Long Dayuan 龍大淵 (d. 1168), original name Gou Longyun 勾龍奫.

The book has a length of 100 juan and is divided into seven parts showing state seals, tallies, jade objects and weapons (1-43 Guobao 國寶), amulets (43-46 Yasheng 壓勝), cart and robe adornments (47-66 Yufu 輿服), stationery of the study (67-76 Wenfang 文房), vessels, incense burners and other metal objects (77-81 Xunliao 薰燎), vessels for eating and drinking (82-90 Yinqi 飲器), storage vessels (91-93 Yiqi 彝器), musical instruments (94-96 Yinyue 音樂), and utensils like paravents, lamps, pots, neck rests, etc. (97-100 Chenshe 陳設).

One or two illustrations are presented for each object, with descriptive texts indicating its size, dimensions, and decorations. The total number of illustrations is more than 700.

Figure 1. Illustration of a jade axe from the Guyu tupu 古玉圖譜

The ceremonial axe was used for a dance (wu qi 舞戚). The object dated to the Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE) and is exactly described as to its dimensions (length of 6.2 cun), colour (light yellow without spots), and decoration ("cicada" pattern towards the blade).

The text is first mentioned in the book catalogue Suichutang shumu 遂初堂書目, where no author is indicated. It is not mentioned in the bibliographical chapter (202-209 Yiwen zhi 藝文志) of the official dynastic history Songshi 宋史, and Zhu Zemin's 朱澤民 (1294-1365) book Guyutu 古玉圖 from the Yuan period 元 (1279-1368) also does not mention the Guyu tupu. The list of contributors presented at the beginning of the book is very doubtful, as many persons cannot be identified. The authorship of Long Dayuan must also be doubted because he was a military official and died before the date of compilation (1176) indicated in the preface. The catalogue must thus have been compiled at a later date, and by persons who were not familiar with Song-period scholars and officials.