Definition and Types
Jade was defined as beautiful stones by Xu Shen (about 58-147) in Shuo Wen Jie Zi, the first Chinese dictionary. Jade is generally classified into soft jade (nephrite) and hard jade (jadeite). Since China only had the soft jade until jadeite was imported from Burma during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), jade traditionally refers to the soft jade so it is also called traditional jade. Jadeite is called Feicui in Chinese. Feicui is now more popular and valuable than the soft jade in China.
Historical Significance
The history of jade is as long as the Chinese civilization. Archaeologists have found jade objects from the early Neolithic period (about 5000 BC), represented by the Hemudu culture in Zhejiang Province, and from the middle and late Neolithic period, represented by the Hongshan culture along the Liao River, the Longshan culture along the Yellow River, and the Liangzhu culture( in the Tai Lake region). Jade has been ever more popular till today.
Cultural Importance
The Chinese love jade because of not only its beauty, but also more importantly its culture, meaning and humanity, as Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) said there are 11 De (virtue) in jade:
“The wise have likened jade to virtue. For them, its polish and brilliancy represent the whole of purity; its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the sureness of intelligence; its angles, which do not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice; the pure and prolonged sound, which it gives forth when one strikes it, represents music.Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws , always showing themselves through the transparency, call to mind sincerity; its iridescent brightness represents heaven; its admirable substance, born of mountain and of water, represents the earth. Used alone without ornamentation it represents chastity. The price that the entire world attaches to it represents the truth. ”To support these comparisons, the Book of Verse says: “When I think of a wise man, his merits appear to be like jade. “
Thus jade is really special in Chinese culture, as the Chinese saying goes, “Gold has a value; jade is invaluable.”
Jade in Chinese Idioms and Symbolism
Because jade stands for beauty, grace and purity, it has been used in many Chinese idioms or phrases to denote beautiful things or people, such as Yu Jie Bing Qing (pure and noble), Ting Ting Yu Li (fair, slim and graceful) and Yu Nv (beautiful girl). The Chinese character Yu is often used in Chinese names. An ancient story tells how King Zhao of Qin Kingdom once offered 15 towns in exchange for the famous Bian He’s Jade. Thus jade is not only invaluable, but also the symbol of power in the ancient time. And it is interesting to note that the Supreme Deity of Taoism has the name, Yuhuang Dadi (the Jade Emperor).
Jade's Role in Ancient Rituals
Jade was made into sacrificial vessel, tools, ornaments, utensils and many other items. There were ancient music instruments made out of jade, such as jade flute, Yuxiao (a vertical jade flute) and jade chime. Jade was also mysterious to the Chinese in the ancient time so jade wares were popular as sacrificial vessels and were often buried with the dead. To preserve the body of the dead, Liu Sheng, the ruler of the Zhongshan State (113 BC) was buried in the jade burial suit composed of 2,498 pieces of jade, sewed together with gold thread.
Jade culture is very rich in China. We have only touched the surface of it. In conclusion, jade symbolizes beauty, nobility, perfection, constancy, power, and immortality in Chinese culture.
