Jade (pronounced "Yu" in Chinese - meaning "the most beautiful stone") was considered a royal gem in China from the earliest dynasties up until present times, and is inextricably woven into ancient and modern Chinese culture. The use of Jade in China dates beck some 8000 to 12,000 years, and was an integral part of commercial, religious and ceremonial life. Although the finest jade was used in Imperial courts, the use of jade in everyday life crossed all socioeconomic boundaries.
Most of the "jade" used in China prior to the 17th and 18th centuries was nephrite - also known as Ming Jade. Although most westerners don't consider jade to be a "precious" gemstone, jade was invaluable to the Chinese people of ancient times. In ancient China, jade was held in higher esteem than materials such as gold or silver. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says: "Gold is estimable, but jade is priceless."
Ming or nephrite jade was used extensively during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) to carve jewelry, functional objects, and animal figurines similar to those that line the road to the royal Ming tombs north of Beijing (above, left). Jade was also used for making a 'Xi' or engraved seal. Qin Shi Huang, who was one of the first emperors of China, had his Xi made out of 'Heshi Bi' jade.
The Heshi Bi was perhaps the most valuable piece of jade in Chinese history, made from Hetian Nephrite found by a man named Bian He. The perfect jade was concealed by an outer stone layer and rather than carve into the stone, Bian He gave it to the King of State Chu. The king did not believe the value of the jade that lay within, and cut off Bian He's legs. Bian cried for three days and nights, and afterwards, the new King heard of him and wanted to see whether his jade was as precious as he claimed. When the stone was cut, the King was duly impressed by the delicate quality of the jade, and it became a national treasure known as 'Heshi Bi.'
Early Chinese jade carving motifs were influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, with each representation having a unique meaning. Popular motifs were the deer symbolizing high official ranking, a duck symbolizing 'love,' bamboo for 'lofty conduct,' the fan indicating 'benevolence,' and lotus 'holiness.' The cabbage is a popular motif even today, used to bring wealth or prosperity into the home. The jade cabbage (below, left) is on display at the Forbidden City's Palace Museum, with a contemporary version shown (below, right).
Jade was used as a talisman to protect the wearer and as a status symbol indicating the dignity, grace and morality of the owner. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), potentates and officials were buried with jade artifacts to protect in the afterlife.
The name "Yu" was given to a young girl as a symbol of love from her parents, and Emperor Xuanzong (Tang Dynasty c.618 to 907) named his favorite concubine Yang Yuhuan with "Yuhuan" meaning "jade ring."
The Confucianist Hàn Dynasty scholar, Xu Shen (c.58 CE c.147 CE) described jade as the fairest of stones, endowed with five virtues: "Charity is typified by its luster, bright yet warm; rectitude by its translucency, revealing the color and markings within; wisdom by the purity and penetrating quality of its note when the stone is struck; courage, in that it may be broken, but cannot be bent; equity, in that it has sharp angles, which yet injure none."
Chinese Jade Classification
The largest nephrite jade deposits in China were in the region of Khotan or Hetian in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang. Chinese nephrite jade occurs in four main color varieties and qualities known as Hetian jade, Lantian jade, Nanyang jade, or Xiu Yu jade. Colors range from white jade to reddish brown, yellow, green, lavender, pink, and black; with Hetian jade and Xiu Jade being the most highly prized. Chinese jade is also divided into two basic categories of hard or soft.
Xiu Jade
Xiu Jade or Xiu Yu (aka "Serpentine jade") is a highly prized semi-translucent form of nephrite jade mined in Liaoning Province near Xiuyan County, in north-eastern China. Xiu jade has a light green color that is similar to Burmese jadeite, but softer and more easily carved into intricate designs. The color can vary from dark green to pink, yellow, tan or ivory.
Hetian Jade
Hetian Nephrite is mined in the high altitude Kunlun Mountains (4500 m) in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region of north-western China, near the Mongolian and Russian boarder. Hetian Nephrite is divided into two categories: 'Mountain Nephrite' and 'Seed Nephrite,' with the Seed Nephrite being more desirable. Varieties of Seed Nephrite are: black jade, blue-white jade, green jade, mutton-fat Jade, tang jade, white jade, and yellow jade. Mutton-Fat Jade is considered to finest with a 'greasy' delicate texture and bright color. Chinese Hetian nephrite is nearing depletion due to over-mining, and as such it has become very valuble.
Lantian Jade
Lantian Jade is mined in Lantian Xian county of the Shaanxi province of central China. Lantian Jade known for its light green to pale yellow color was primarily used up until the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), when Hetian jade became increasingly popular.
Nanyang Jade
Nanyang jade (aka Dushan jade) is mined in Nanyang County in Henan Province. The mines are situated on the 200 meter high 'Dushan Hill.' Nanyang jade occurs in red, purple, and blue hues.
Feitsu or "kingfisher" Jadeite in China
In the 17th century during the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), large scale importation of jadeite from Northern Burma caused nephrite to loose popularity in China. Jadeite with its bright emerald-green, lavender and reddish-orange hues became known by the Chinese as "feitsu" or "kingfisher" jade, and was considered to be the "king of jade." The reddish coloration is attributed to iron impurities, while the green is due to the presence of chromium.
Jade & Gem Trade Organizations in China
Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory Ltd.
Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association (HKJJA)
Kaiser Estate Phase I
41 Man Yue Street
Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong, China
Tel: + 852 2543 0543
www.jewellery-hk.org
Semi-Precious Stones