Chinese Ginger Jar

By: Amanda de Castro

A few years after my parents moved to our house, my grandmother gave them 3 blue and white ginger jars. She has a collection of antique jars and wanted to share them with my parents. I choose this item because its antiqueness gives it its significance. They go back to several centuries ago. Originally, they were used to store ginger as they were exported to the western world making the jars. Now, they are used as decoration pieces in houses.

Ginger jars originated from China in the days of the Qin Dynasty. These jars are usually made with blue and white porcelain and a matching top. All ginger jars have a symbol on the middle of the jar and one matching on the top of the jar. This symbol is a design called the “double happiness mark” meaning “wedded bliss”. This refers to shuangxi meaning “double xi (joy) in Chinese.” This symbol appears in porcelain decorations from the early 19th century. Now, the Chinese give ginger jars to newlyweds for joy and luck.

In China, where the jars originated, the jar was called “guan”. It was used as storage for herbs and spices. Their name came to be when ginger was exported a lot to the western world (Australia, Europe, America, etc.). The jars that it was stored in and transported in became known as ginger jars. From then they were always called ginger jars.

Now they are collected by collectors all over the world. They are collected because of their aesthetic and their blue and white patterns. Over the years they have become an in-demand collecter’s item. They aren’t really used as storage for herbs and spices anymore but are used as decoration in houses.

Used to store and transport spices, it has long been regarded as precious memorabilia from centuries ago. Nowadays, people collect them because of their history and value. They are also now used as decoration in houses. Their symbol gives joy and happiness and is a great thing to collect for collectors.