Jade (pronounced "yu" in Chinese, and
meaning
"the most beautiful stone") was considered a
royal gem in Ancient China from the earliest
dynasties up until present times, and is
inextricably woven into ancient and modern
Chinese culture. The use of jade (nephrite) in
China dates beck some 8,000 to 12,000
years,
and was an integral part of commercial,
religious
and ceremonial life throughout this region.
Although the finest jade was reserved for the
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
much
higher esteem than other precious
gemstones or
metals such as gold and silver. There is an
ancient Chinese proverb that says: "gold is
estimable, but jade is priceless."
So revered was jade that during the Han
Dynasty
(206 BC—220 AD) Chinese nobility was
buried in
a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade,
called
appropriately a "Jade burial suit" (yu yi, or
"jade
suit"). According to the Book of Later Han,
the
type of wire used was dependent on the
station
of the person buried, with the emperors
using
gold thread; princes, princesses, silver
thread;
sons or daughters of those given silver
thread,
copper thread; and lesser aristocrats, silk
thread.
Ordinary citizens were forbidden to be buried
in
jade suits.
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.
