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Would appreciate any help in translating both the Hanzi script and the seal script on my tianhuang seal. It is 1 7/8" long and photographs somewhat darker than the actual golden color. Many thanks for your help.

空林有雪相待

possibly: the empty forest and the snow need each other.

Many thanks, Mike, for the seal translation. Any thoughts on the hanzi script on the side of the seal?

Hard to see at that angle but most probably the name of the seal carver.

Seals with this kind of message are referred to as 'leisure' seals and are used by artists and calligraphers on their works - often to signify something - an idea or feeling - that they associate with the work they have done.

Thanks again, Mike, you have always been a great source of information.

In case it helps: this seal is not made of Tianhuang jade but rather made of shoushan (tianhuang) stone.... real Tianhuang jade source is very scarce (the historical mine vein is almost exhausted). although Tianhuang jade looks very much like shoushan stone to untrained eyes, real Tianhuan jade should show some kind of “carrot veins” aspect with characteristic translucence and (sometimes) redish inclusions...

There are roughly 160 identified types of Shoushan stone, Shoushan Village Tianhuang is Shoushan Stone not jade the softer material makes better seal carvings.

You are correct Tianhuang comes from a very specific location within a depression in the rice paddies and centuries submerged in this environment with the specific minerals at this location the Tianhuang developed fine lines or striations resembling the texture of cut radish, but not all Tianhuang will exhibit the carrot lines. I forget the exact size of the deposit but it is (was) relatively small and now depleted. Shoushan stone taken from the bank 20 yards from the specific area is not Tianhuang and is much less valuable.

The URL Link may help you identify your specific Shoushan Stone.

URL Title :Chinese Jade Arts

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