The Historical Story of Amber

Tens of millions of years ago, there was a large virgin forest in northern Europe. Later, the crust moved violently and a large area of land sank to the bottom of the sea. After several years, the forest died, the trees fell and rotted, and the resin was buried under a lot of residue. After a long period of geological action, the resin lost its volatile components, polymerized and solidified, and formed an organic gem-amber. Today, amber has been found in more than 20 places in the world, among which the Baltic Sea is the most important producing area, where amber is mostly collected from drifting seawater. The amber produced locally has golden color, high transparency and excellent beeswax quality.

? There has always been such a beautiful legend in ancient Greece that amber was changed from the tears of the ancient Greek goddess Helitis. Her son Faetong was killed while driving a solar car without permission. Helitis was sad for months. After the baptism of time, this kind mother finally turned into poplar, and her tears turned into crystal amber.

Amber, which has been baptized by time, has been a traditional ornament worn by European nobles since ancient times. In the early days, Europeans used amber as a sacrifice to the sun god, which was a symbol of sun worship. It is considered by European ancestors to have magical power, which can ward off evil spirits and protect the living and the dead. At the same time, it is also regarded as a token of love between lovers. In the west, people's fascination with amber is just like China's love for jade. It is a status symbol that can only be used by the royal family to decorate palaces and houses.

As early as 10,000 years ago, Northern Europe discovered that amber can be made into different styles of ornaments, such as amulets, buttons and beads. In the first century BC, amber entered the Mediterranean territory, and the ancient Romans' love for amber reached the level of obsession. Amber was particularly popular among the nobles in ancient Rome. They are keen to put warm amber on their bodies after bathing and enjoy the relaxation and pleasure brought by amber massage. At that time, amber was an ornament of the Roman Acrobatic Troupe and a protective shield for Roman soldiers. According to records, all the weapons used by soldiers are decorated with amber, and the price of a small amber portrait exceeds the price of a living slave.

A thousand years later, the history of Europe is inextricably linked with amber again. 1309, the Germanic knights arrived in Poland, and they mastered the absolute control of Poland. Amber is a key factor in their wealth and power. Maybe they didn't value amber as much as the Romans did. They attach importance to the medical function of amber. For example, amber can prevent plague and make rosary. In the14th century, most Baltic amber was used to make religious articles. At that time, all the rosaries in Europe were provided by Germanic knights. In order to strengthen the control of trade, the Germanic knights banned anyone from processing amber products in 1393, which won them the title of amber monarch.

In tsarist Russia, people thought that wearing a necklace made of amber could keep diseases away from themselves and their children, while wearing amber for pregnant women could help to settle the fetus and help to give birth smoothly. In Germany, children wear amber necklaces around their necks to help them eliminate pain and grow strong and healthy teeth. /kloc-At the beginning of the 9th century, it was said that Chopin, a Polish composer, always carried a piece of amber with him. Before each performance, he wiped his hands with amber to warm his fingers.

In ancient China, amber was also regarded as a precious wealth. It exists in the seven treasures of Buddhism. A piece of amber collected by Pan Guifei was recorded in the Southern History, which was as high as 654.38+0.7 million yuan at that time. This is the earliest amber collection in China. In the Qing dynasty, officials had a crown jewel on their hats. According to their grades, the colors of the jewels in the crown are different. The crown jewel worn by a senior official is made of extremely rare red or Burgundy amber-blood amber, and its preciousness can be seen.

China people have loved the scent of pine trees since ancient times, because amber is the resin of pine trees. Holding a piece of amber in your hand and touching it will release a faint pine fragrance. According to the Tang Dynasty's Miscellaneous Notes on Xijing, Zhao, the empress of Emperor Hancheng, used an amber pillow to absorb incense. Li Bai, a great poet, also wrote the poem "Leave an amber pillow, or when you have a dream".

Since ancient times, China believed that amber buried underground for thousands of years absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon and the aura of heaven and earth. It has both the warmth of jade and the clarity of spar, which is of great benefit to human body. Tao Hongjing said in Records of Famous Doctors: Amber has the effects of calming nerves, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Li Shizhen recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica: Amber can calm the mind and soothe the nerves, calm the five internal organs, and clear the heart and soothe the nerves. Therefore, amber is also considered as a precious medicinal material.

Modern amber has been favored by more and more collectors in recent years because of its long culture, charming aroma, magical effect and historical witness. At the art fair in Guangzhou, a hookah with amber characters was sold at a high price of 2.2 million yuan; At the spring auction in Hong Kong, a beautiful insect pearl fetched a sky-high price of 6.8 million yuan.

There is a saying that there is no future without the past and the present. In the long river of history, amber has experienced a long precipitation and baptism, absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon and the aura of heaven and earth. Perhaps this is why it has been enduring and loved by the world.