The
jade stone has been revered in China since Neolithic times. Jade (yu) was firstly utilised
for tools because of its hardness and strength, but later appeared on ornaments and
ceremonial vessels for its decorative value. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was
believed that jade was empowered with magical and life-giving properties, and the dead
were buried with jadeware. Opulent jade suits, meant to prevent decomposi- tion, have been
found in Han tombs, while Taoist alchemists, striving for immortality, ate elixirs of
powdered jade.
Jade's
value lies not just in its scarcity, but depends also on its colour, hardness and the
skill with which it has been carved.
While the pure white form is
the most highly valued, the stone varies in translucency and colour, including many shades
of green, brown and black. China's most famous jade comes from Hotan (p798) in Xinjiang
province; much of what is sold in Hong Kong is fake.
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