《左傳.成公十三年》云：“國之大事，在祀與戎”。本器青白玉雕琢, 形制為虎形立姿擺件。易經乾掛九五曰： 風從虎。古人心目中，虎令人無比畏懼。用玉雕琢的玉虎具有神力，玉虎被視為避邪的瑞獸或通天的神獸。

本件玉虎的紋飾完全符合商代風格。眼睛造型為臣字眼， 耳朵造型為源於商代青銅器中的爵與斝的口緣立柱的蘑菇耳，全身的折鐵線勾形兵器及盾牌造型象徵商代武器。 玉虎尾巴兩側文飾象的圖騰，意指經過祭祀與戎之後， 便太平有象。 本玉虎背上雕琢一方型符號， 其涵義為通天之口，虎兩側各有龍形圖騰， 此玉虎堪稱商代文化的縮影。 玉虎全器雕琢線條為雙勾陰線所形成之壓地陽線， 線條流暢優美， 刀工精湛， 古玉跡象為擴散暈沁色， 冰裂紋及鈣化。 商代婦好墓中出土八件玉虎，造型工藝繁簡不一，但都刻意表現虎的威猛。中國國家博物館收藏有商代青玉玉虎，長5.3、寬1.4厘米。

(下圖為西漢玉虎, 背上飾有一圓柱, 其涵義為通天之口).

According to  Zuo Zhuan, Worship and warfare are the major events of a nation.  The  Jade Tiger, L. 17cm. of the Shang Dynasty, is carved with green pale tone jade, the object has the form of a tiger with motifs characterizing the Shang Dynasty including big eyes, mushroom-style ears which inherited the style of the pillar on the edge of the wine cup, barbed wire weapon and shield are weapons. The carving style is a convex line forming from double incised lines. With mastery workmanship, the antiquity evidence of this Shang tiger includes diffusive markings, cleaving veins, and calcification. This jade tiger is surely an epitome of Shang Dynasty culture.

For any questions, please write to Prof. Chen.