Regarded as a “jewel of heaven” and a symbol of purity, jade stone came to be associated with aesthetics and exquisiteness, especially in Chinese culture. In the last decade, there has been a steady rise in the popularity of the stone, even among non-Asian buyers globally. In auctions across the world, the charm of jade jewelry has grown enormously if their record-breaking sales are anything to go by. Here are some of the most fascinating aspects of this touchstone.
The article was originally written by Asra Shaheen for Bidsquare publication
Chinese emperor Qianlong was so mesmerized by the magnificence of the jade stone that he went on to collect the most exquisite and exclusive assortment of jade objects ever during the Qing Dynasty period. Legend has it that the Emperor composed more than 800 songs and verses, paying an ode to his jadeite treasures. Interestingly, this literature was carved onto the jade artifacts, as was the practice with the Chinese rulers of the yore. Qianlong’s obsession with jade induced a passion for jade jewelry world over for centuries together. Several quantities of raw jade were imported to China from Burma and this precious stone eventually became a cultural passion in the country for generations to come, especially with the royal and noble families. A gigantic jade sculpture carved in the 18th century CE is a classic example of the extent to which the jade stone captured the Chinese imagination. Yu the Great Taming the Waters, which depicts a Qing landscape, was sculpted over a span of seven years and truly illustrates China’s romance with the touchstone even to this day.
According to a Chinese saying, ‘you can put a price on gold, but jade is priceless’. No wonder the Chinese character for jade, “Yu”, bears a stark resemblance to “Wang” the character referring to the king. The similarity between these two characters only underscores the intrinsic association between this touchstone and the nobility. Regarded as a “jewel of heaven” and a symbol of purity, the stone came to be associated with aesthetics and exquisiteness by the royal families.
Popularly known as a stone of good luck and prosperity, Jade is classified into two different minerals — jadeite and nephrite. While they may seem similar in toughness and appearance, the two are different in their mineral compositions. Found in green and white shades, nephrite is a magnesium-rich amphibole with pale and opaque hues, depending on the iron content and other elements in the stone. On the other hand, jadeite is a pyroxene rich in aluminum with deep shades and lustrous looks. While nephrite is found in several countries including China, Taiwan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, jadeite is found largely in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The Khotan region in Central Asia is also home to jade stone.
Being a hard mineral, the jade stone was shaped using a cord and sand since it was not possible to cut it with metal tools. Working with ancient tools required immense effort, and this made the touchstone even more valuable. Owing to its toughness, the stone was carved with linear designs earlier. More sophisticated designs emerged over a period of time.
The Crowning Glory of Chinese Culture
China’s association with jade is one of the oldest in the world, tracing back to 2070-256 BC. During the Neolithic period, rectangular tablets resembling weapons and tools were carved. The green color was the much desired shade for eons. In fact, the ceramics makers in the 8th century BCE and the celadon makers later often mimicked the green color of the jade stone in their ware. In the ancient China, jade was valued as the most beautiful naturally found material. The pure white jade stone from Central Asia became popular during 1st century BCE, followed by its proliferation in the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). In the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures, it was used for making ritualistic and sacrificial objects. As jade was considered to be an eternal stone, it was a common practice to bury objects made of jade with the deceased. In fact, jade cicadas were used to preserve the body from decomposing. An archeological excavation once unearthed a fascinating 113 BCE tomb at Mancheng, Beijing. The remains of a royal couple were found covered in jade suits, which were made with over 1,000 small squares of jade fused with gold and silver wiring.
During the Shang Dynasty (1766-1111 BCE), objects such as chimes, seals in burials, abstract meanders, spirals, and hooks were widely carved from jade stone. Ritual cups called bi, which later came to be known as zong/cong, were disc-shaped objects, containing a cutout in the center and occasionally ornamented with notches on the outer edge. These were handmade during the Shang and Zhou Dynasty (1111-221 BCE) and were often found on chest or the waist of the dead. Jade jewelry, miniature sculptures of monsters and humans, halberd blades, bull masks, and miniature tools have been discovered in ancient tombs. Crescent-shaped decorative plaques called huang have also been found.
In the early days, jade was used in its nephrite form, with China’s Xinjiang region being the principal source of the stone back then. Valued for its durability, it was prized for being the rarest hard stone. However, the Confucian belief system ascribed a sense of morality and purity to the jade stone meaning. Ever since, the stone had been revered as a unique and precious stone in ancient China. Ranging from desk ornaments to jade jewelry, the stone was carved into various ritualistic articles and objet d’art. Jadeite happened much later, only in the 18th century, when Qianlong’s obsession with the stone prompted its imports from Burma.
Another fascinating aspect of this Chinese passion is that many bards have drawn an analogy between jade and the voice of their beloved! This is primarily because the stone has certain intrinsic musical properties and hence has been used to carve a variety of instruments in China such as xylophones, gongs and chimes. Owing to its robustness, jade does not break when it is hit hard with a heavy object. In fact, it rings like a bell unlike other precious elements such as diamond and quartz that simply shatter or crack when struck hard.
Maori and the Mystique of Jade Hei-Tiki
The Maoris, the indigenous Polynesians of New Zealand, share profoundly supernatural and mystical connect with the jade stone. They strongly believed that the hei-tiki guided the wellbeing of their families and hence carefully preserved these pieces, which they regarded as spirit objects. While they have been carving weapons, tools and jade jewelry for ages, a ritualistic wizard hunt associated with jade hei-tiki or heirloom pendants is particularly intriguing. Traditionally, a Maori family would engage a tohunga or wizard to locate raw jade when they desired to make a hei-tiki. The family follows the hunt led by the wizard, who goes into a trance to communicate with the ancestral spirits to help him find the jade stone. Once the wizard finds it, the Maori family names the jade after the spirit that helped find it. Equally mystical was the burial and retrieval of the pendant. After the death of the loved ones, especially that of important clan members such as chieftain, the hei-tiki was buried with them and later retrieved by a close male member from the grave.
Other cultures such as the Meso-American and ancient Egyptians also hold jade stone in high esteem. It was a common practice to place jade in the mouths of their departed in these cultures. Legend has it that on Spaniards’ arrival into Mexico, the Aztecs valued jade far more than what it weighed in gold.
A Healing Stone for Body and Mind
Physical healing, mental strength and emotional wellbeing are some of the popular jade stone benefits. Jade helps in cleansing toxins from organs and enables balancing of fluids in the spleen, bladder and kidneys. The stone is also known for its cooling benefits that help in fighting infections and keep a tab on the human body temperature. In ancient China, jade powder was mixed with water as a panacea for body ailments and also for longevity of life.
The stone is also known to improve one’s sex drive and can be beneficial for those dealing with sexual problems. Emotionally speaking, jade stone is believed to keep negative thought at bay and harmonizes the “heart chakra” with its spiritual vibes. It is known to instill courage, confidence and self-esteem in individuals, clearing their thought process and calming down their emotions.
From the brilliant blue color, which stands for reflection and peace to the serene lavender hue, which supposedly exudes a sense of spirituality, different shades of the jade stone have been historically associated with varied physical, mental and emotional healing benefits.
In the last decade, there has been a steady rise in the popularity of jadeite among non-Asian buyers globally. In auctions across the world, the charm of jade jewelry has grown enormously if their record-breaking sales are anything to go by.
The article was originally written by Asra Shaheen for Bidsquare publication