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Jade Culture
Introduction
Jade (Yu in Chinese pinyin) was defined as
beautiful stones by Xu Zhen (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 Qing
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.
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 Zhejian Province, and from the middle and late Neolithic period,
represented by the Hongshan culture along the Lao 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.
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 following is the translation (don't know the translator):
"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,
also as the Chinese saying goes "Gold has a value; jade is
invaluable."
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.
Jade Stories
There are Chinese stories about jade. The two
most famous stories are He Shi Zhi Bi (Mr. He and His Jade) and Wan
Bi Gui Zhao (Jade Returned Intact to Zhao). Bi also means jade. He
Shi Zhi Bi is a story about the suffering of Mr. He when he
presented his raw jade to the kings again and again. The raw jade
was eventually recognized as an invaluable jade and was named after
Mr. He by Wenwang, the king of the Chu State (about 689 BC). Wan Bi
Gui Zhao is a follow-up story of the famous jade. The king of the
Qin State, the most powerful state during the Warring States Period
(475-221 BC), tempted to exchange the jade from the Zhao State using
his 15 cities, but he failed. The jade was returned to the Zhao
State safely. 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 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,
sewn 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
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