Collection and Identification of Tian Huangshi

The so-called Tian Huang, also known as a special variety of Shoushan stone, is named after its production in the paddy fields on both sides of the Kengtou Creek in Shoushan Village, Fujian, and in the sand and gravel layers at the bottom of the river. Its texture is delicate, warm, and smooth to the touch, often marked with stone skins, red squares, and radish patterns. As one of the unique “soft gemstones” in China, Tianhuang is only produced in a field of less than 1 square kilometer in Shoushan, Fujian, China worldwide, resulting in extremely limited production. It should be noted that not all Tian Huang has high collection value. The quality of Tianhuang varies greatly, and its value varies greatly, making it difficult to generalize. Most of the Tianhuang used for collection and investment are only a few of them with obvious features, excellent in all aspects, and impeccable top quality.

The top quality of Tianhuang requires a positive color, so the “yellow” of Tianhuang requires it to be as bright as gold. The high-quality Tian Huang should be transparent, pure, delicate, and have a beautiful texture. At the same time, as a representative stone of hard stone, Tianhuang was excavated in an oval shape, so high-quality Tianhuang should be full, round, and in a coordinated proportion. There are three main standards in the current collection industry for distinguishing Tian Huang, namely “having radish silk patterns, red tendons, and stone skin”. It is worth noting that due to the variety and appearance of Tianhuangshi, if only measured by these standards, it is inevitable to generalize. Therefore, when identifying Tianhuang, in addition to observing some common features, other factors such as texture and color should also be comprehensively considered.