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 Jade 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 in China dates back 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 (it was used
to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor
decorative items to jade burial suits). Known from legend as «the Stone of
Heaven», jade attained a position in the religious and cultural life of the people
that has not been seen with any other natural substance in any other time or
culture.
Jade was considered the stone of life, and philosophers have endowed
with five virtues: «Mercy 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». There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says: «gold is
estimable, but jade is priceless».
The wide
distribution and useful properties of jade account for the world-wide usage of
this stone by the ancient cultures. Archeologists have retrieved tools and
artworks made of jade in locations from Switzerland to New Zealand, the
Americas, and Asia. Amazingly, the people of China and Central America shared
the same beliefs regarding the influence of jade on human health and life, and
therefore they used jade for the same purposes. Note that there was no contact between
the Ancient China and the Aztecs and Maya civilizations. By the way, in New
Zealand jade was considered to be a sacred stone of higher wisdom and a symbol
of power.
Interestingly,
jade is usually not associated with any specific Zodiac sign (except that there
is the color division: for example, green jade is recommended for Capricorn, white
is best for Libra, red and brown suits Virgo, while Aquarius would benefit from
wearing blue jade jewelry).
Jade is one
of the key gemstones, allegedly responsible for dramatic life changes. It could
be worn by any Zodiac sign, but only when yearning for a change; it is believed
that otherwise the stone can bring undesirable changes. Moreover, jade can
destroy your quiet, slow-paced life, if the stone «decides» that your life needs
change and improvement. It is said that jade can push to such changes and
simply make its owner change. Are you stuck in a tense, uncompromising
situation at work or home? Use a jade in meditation to help find common ground.
This stone will also promote a more unified environment so you may accomplish
compromise. If your life is a series of one disaster after another, jade can
assist in removing harmful energies and increasing beneficial ones.
Tradition
does not recommend jade to lovers, as it is said to separate the two loving
hearts. But there is another legend that states the opposite: jade is a stone
of eternal love, and a butterfly carved from jade was often worn to attract
love; it was also a common engagement gift from a man to a woman. Men would
present a statue of two men carved from the stone to bond their friendship. The
contradiction probably stems from the fact that jade is suitable only for the
true love, and if it «senses» the slightest doubt, insincerity, then the impact
will be reversed.
But if
you're single, jade helps to find your true identity, grow up to extraordinary
heights. This gemstone can deprive a person of contact, communication, and therefore
is considered most suitable for the monks. Jade was used as a talisman to
protect the wearer and as a status symbol indicating the dignity, grace and
morality of the owner.
Dishes for
food and drink were often carved from jade. The gem was believed to prolong
life and that substances contained in those vessels would absorb that energy.
Talismans of bats, storks, and bears were carved to promote a healthier, longer
life.
It is also
great for balancing male/female energies and for creating more balance in your
relationship. It has an extremely powerful «blessing» energy, enhancing other
gems, crystals and objects that come in contact. If you do healing work, you
may want to keep a jade around for a quick meditation after each session. The
stone provides n wonderful boost of energy that will revive you.
Jade has
long been associated with healthy kidneys and other internal organs. It can
also provide rejuvenating energies to give you new strength after a long
illness or emotional trauma. The gem may increase white blood cells to help
fight off dangerous organisms that attack your body. It will regulate your
metabolism and provides women with relief from PMS, childbirth, and physical
violence against our sexuality. If you have been a victim of rape or domestic
violence, the loving energies of this stone will not only assist you in
recovering from the emotional trauma, but will prevent the onset of traumatic
illnesses that stress can cause.
Even the
mighty Genghis Khan honored jade, and his personal seal was a jade figurine of
a lying tiger. The tomb of Tamerlane in Samarkand was sheltered by a gigantic
monolith of black and green jade. According to the popular belief, that monolith
was supposed to keep it inviolate. The monolith is also a protection against
the prophecies which said that, if the remains of Tamerlane were ever disturbed,
a savage and violent war would broke out. Incidentally, the tomb was opened in
1941, and though highly atheistic, Soviet authorities re-interred Tamerlane
ashes with due honors and rituals, and the jade monolith was restored to its
original position. They say that the reburial ceremony was held right before the
Battle of Stalingrad that changed the course of the World War II.
Jade can be
found in a translucent white to very light yellow form which is known as mutton
fat jade, in an opaque white to very light brown or gray which is known as
chicken bone jade, as well as in a variety of green colors.
The
gemstone is mined in many locations, ranging from New Zealand, Siberia and
South Korea, to the USA (Wyoming and California primarily), but the largest
deposits, by far, come from British Columbia. These Canadian sites often yield
huge boulders, frequently covered with a brown rind of oxidized iron. The
finest of this material is trademarked as «Polar Jade» and is of a translucent
and rich green color seen in very few other specimens of jade. The great centre
of Chinese jade-working is at Peking. Siberia has yielded very fine specimens
of dark green jade, notably from the neighborhood of the Alibert graphite mine,
near Batugol, Lake Baikal. The jade seems to occur as a rock in part of the Sayan
mountain system.
The weight
of jade boulders varies from a few kilograms to several tons. In the Sayans, boulders
up to 5 tons in weight were mined, and a boulder weighing nearly 30 tons, the
largest jade boulder in the world, was found in Northern Burma.
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