Jade
Jade is either formed from jadeite or nephrite.
Jadeite
and nephrite are both incredibly hard and tough.
Most of
the jade items from ancient China were made from nephrite.
The combination of minerals, pressure and temperature
caused some nephrite to form.
The conditions needed to
form nephrite are so specific that high quality nephrite is
extremely rare. Jade is an extremely hard mineral which
cannot be sculpted using a chisel. Instead jade has to be
abraded using a wet sandy sludge. It could take several
months to sculpt a jade item. A finer sand was used to
polish the jade after it had been sculpted.
In ancient times it was regarded as a symbol of power, as
only aristocrats could own items of jade. In addition jade
was linked to a moral standard and ethics. Confucius wrote
that jade had 11 virtues, amongst which are benevolence,
fidelity, etiquette, wisdom and sincerity. Even in China
today jade is a symbol of love and virtue.
Archaeological finds have shown that the Chinese used jade
in the Neolithic period. Jade was used for many purposes,
not only for decoration. Up until the Shang and Zhou
dynasties,
jade
was
fashioned
into
tools,
weapons,
utensils, accessories and ritual utensils. As trade
expanded jade became used as a currency. In following
dynasties jade was mainly made into accessories and
ornaments as the importance of other items
in society
fell.
Jade was thought to represent Heaven, Earth, the east, the
west, the south, the north and the emperors. Jade
functioned as a messenger between Heaven and mankind.
Jade was also associated with people who made great
contributions to China, including Emperor Huang who first
united China in 2637 B.C.
Ancient Chinese people believed that jade had supernatural
power. By wearing jade ornaments and using jade wares it
was believed that the intrusion of evil influences could be
resisted.
Ancient Civilizations –
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