Amber

hu IMG:p25_1.png:Chinese characters Early Chinese writers describe amber as being the resin of the pine and fir, which, having sunk into the earth is in proce of time transformed into a lustrous substance of IMG:p25_2.png:Chinese characters a blood-red colour, and which when rubbed po e es the property of attracting mustard seeds. The first mention of amber by a Chinese writer is by Pan Ku in the first century of our era, who states that it was imported from Kashmir. Another writer of the same period refers to its being obtained from the country of the Shans. We are told that in the same century the amber mines of North Burma were exploited and amber sent thence to Yunnan. Several places in Yiinnan are said by Chinese writers to have produced indigenous amber; but the so-called Yunnan amber of the present day comes from the Burma mines, the centre of the industry being Maingkhwan, inhabited by Shans, 110 miles from Yung-ch'ang fu. Amber was brought from Persia in or before the 6th century, according to the Wei annals, and in the 10th century tribute of amber was sent to China from Turf an. Amber, presumably from India, is much used in Tibet, and is thence transported to Kansu. In the 17th century the Dalai Lama sent some as tribute to the Chinese Emperor. As regards importations of European amber into China, it is known that in the middle ages Ru ian amber was transported via Siberia to Turkis tan and thence to China. The Dutch imported amber into Formosa in the 17th century, and the Portuguese carried it to Macao in the 18th century, though it is not certain whether this was European amber or from the Indian Archipelago. The reports of the Chinese Maritime Customs show that the chief sources of the present supply are Pru ia, Japan and the Indian Archipelago. The amber used in Korea comes exclusively from Pru ia. Chinese imitations of amber date from early times. A 15th century account describes imitation amber as being made from dyed sheep's horn. The present imitations are made from copal, shellac, colophony and gla . Amber-coloured gla beads are made in Po-shan in Shantung, while an imitation amber is made in Canton from the upper part of the beaks of cranes. A powder made from amber is much used in Chinese medicines. Jet is referred to by Chinese writers as black amber. See Jet. Latjfer: Historical Jottings on Amber in Asia; HiRTH and Rock hill: Chau Ju-hua.