It was proved that the different geological conditions and forming causes form different types of agate “paintings”. Brazil agate has bright colors. So, the figures and animals in the section are clear and vivid. The agate from Madagascar is crystal and transparent. The grass, flower and natural scenes can be clearly found in its cut section.
Madagascar agate is also called “MA agate” when it entered into Chinese market in the early days. Coincidentally, Mr.XU Hui-en, an entrepreneur, artist and collector in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, found its great artistic and collective value at the first sight. With his introduction and pushing, “MA agate” was given a romantic and dreamy name--- Ocean Jade Marrow by Chinese experts in the fields of jewels jade and view stone based on its birth place, material and shape in 2011. From then on, OJM is well known around the world, which brought the remarkable recovery of the domestic agate marketing.

The kept breaking transaction records push agate enters into the noble class of the stones. At the same time, agate “painting” has become the gold key to the high-end artistic works, and a bridge over the gap between material and spiritual world.
Agate and jade culture have gone through 7,000 years in China. They are found, appreciated and collected by scholars, hermits and artists as the symbol of pure soul and undependable spirit. These beautiful stones provide an amazing space for them to enjoy the solitude and meditation.
These special paintings help people understand the changeable world as well as man’s reflections, which are just like what Emerson once said, “a mirror being carried on the street is ready to reflect every creature before him”. Appreciating these paintings also agree with the theory of Zan which prefers the calm of heart. That is to say, what you see is what is in your heart.
These paintings illuminate man’s imagination and thought on the pity of flying time or the change of great nature. Watching them, one’s weather-bitten heart can be filtered pure immediately. As a result, more and more people are joining the collection group of agate paintings, searching for the peace of soul and return of nature.
As a photographer, discovering, catching, keeping and displaying beauty are my duties and hobbies. I once published one photo book called The Incredible Stone---the Collection and Appreciation of Chinese Pictograph Agate three years ago, which removed the mysterious veil of pictorial agate and let more people know it. Now, my new work on agate, The Shape of Stone’s Heart——The Secrets inside Agate is a deep digging on the charm and humanistic connotation of agate paintings.
The Shape of Stone’s Heart is the continuator of The Incredible Stone based on the contemplation and recreating of pictorial agate. It is a shift from crude stone to artistic work.
I hope when we read this book, we can review the mutual dependable relationship between man and nature. Great nature presents human beings various gorgeous art works. We should return her a better tomorrow with full of gratitude to her.
Li Jun
Aug. 2017

从此以后，中国的网络世界里有了真正意义的英文版的图纹玛瑙介绍！全世界都可以分享图纹玛瑙这个珍稀收藏！