Ivory has had a long history of use in China, where it has been highly valued for both ornamental and practical purposes over thousands of years. Here we explore the various ways ivory has been utilized traditionally and contemporarily in China, as well as examine the impact this demand has had on elephant populations worldwide.
Traditional Uses of Ivory in China
Ivory use in China dates back to prehistoric times, with the earliest ivory artifacts in the region found at Neolithic sites. By the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), ivory was being expertly carved into everything from jewelry and ornaments to utilitarian objects like brushes, chopsticks and name seals. However, it was during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) that the most significant development in Chinese ivory work emerged – the introduction of the lathe allowed craftsmen to achieve new heights of intricacy and detail in their carvings.
Over the following centuries, under successive dynasties, ivory carving in China was continuously refined as both an art form and luxury trade. By the 18th century during the prosperous Qing Dynasty, China had become the largest ivory market in the world. Wealthy aristocrats commissioned exquisite pieces like figurines, fans, chess sets and decorative plaques to display their status. At the same time, the expanding middle class created demand for smaller mass-produced objects like chopsticks, name seals and bangles.
This appetite for ivory continued even after the fall of imperial China in 1912. For example, musicians still valued ivory for components of traditional instruments like the end blown flute dizi. Meaning “ivory flute”, dizi were traditionally made with ivory mouths and tips for their acoustic qualities. Other common ivory objects included mah-jong tiles, signature stamps and figures of religious deities.
Contemporary Ivory Use
In modern times, ivory carving has been sustained as a protected form of Chinese cultural heritage. Examples of exquisite contemporary ivory art are displayed at the Beijing Ivory Carving Factory and retail stores target luxury gift items to tourists. However, the demand for ivory today is also driven by a burgeoning Chinese middle class valuing ivory as a status symbol and investment. High-end ivory goods are gifted to establish important social connections and business deals.
Some specific examples of popular ivory products in China today include:
- Name seals – small personal stamps carved with the owner’s name in Chinese characters used to sign documents or mark personal belongings.
- Ivory mah-jong sets – tile-based game highly popular for entertainment and gambling.
- Cigarette holders – long ivory tubes used to keep cigarette smoke away from clothes and hands.
- Chopsticks – for both personal use and gifted as wedding presents.
- Bracelets/bangles – delicate and decorative jewelry pieces.
- Figurines – collectible carved statues and miniatures depicting deities, historical figures, animals etc.
This persistent modern demand for ivory in China supports a thriving illegal trade. Even after China banned all domestic ivory sales in 2017, the black market persists, supplied by poaching and smuggling from Africa. China also remains the leading destination for legally imported antique ivory pieces auctioned worldwide.
Impact on Elephant Populations
China’s vast appetite for ivory over history has exerted heavy pressure on global elephant populations. By the 1970s-80s, around 1 million African elephants were being slaughtered each decade to supply ivory demand. The 1989 CITES ban provided respite, but the early 2000s saw poaching rates soar again to feed Chinese demand.
Conservation groups estimate 30,000-35,000 elephants are still being killed illegally across Africa each year. DNA tracing on large ivory seizures regularly identifies China as the intended destination. Although poaching rates have fallen slightly since China’s domestic ban, ivory is still being smuggled at shocking levels. African elephant numbers have declined by at least 60% over the last 50 years.
| Year | Estimated Elephant Population |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 1.3 million |
| 1987 | 600,000 |
| 2007 | 470,000 |
| 2014 | 415,000 |
China faces heavy criticism from conservationists for its role in the elephant poaching crisis. However, public awareness campaigns by wildlife groups are helping shape attitudes, particularly among younger generations. With growing pressure, the Chinese government has pledged to shut down its domestic ivory trade and help combat trafficking. Yet for fragile elephant populations to recover, China still needs to address its persistent demand for ivory.
Conclusion
Ivory has been deeply embedded in Chinese culture for millennia, where it has been fashioned into objects of both aesthetic and practical value. Traditionally ivory was carved into everything from jewelry and ornaments to mah-jong tiles and chopsticks. While no longer legal, ivory maintains prestige in China as a luxury commodity and status symbol gifted among elites. This persistent demand continues to fuel a massive illegal trade and the slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants a year. For these threatened populations to bounce back, China will need to tackle entrenched cultural attitudes and address ongoing demand for ivory products.