Chinese began to know and use jade in the early Neolithic
Age according to archeologists and archeological findings. Many jade wares
dating back to 4,000 to 6,000 years ago have been excavated in different
places. It was not only used for decorative purpose but also others. Until
the Shang and Zhou dynasties, jade wares had been developed into tools,
weapons, daily utensils, accessories and ritual utensils. As commodity
exchange boomed, jade was bestowed with currency function. For thousands
of years till now, jade was and is a symbol of love and virtue as well
as a status symbol.
In the Zhou dynasty, jade use was first regulated in Zhouli (Rites of
the Zhou), which was the constitution of the Zhou dynasty concerning with
politics, economy, military, diplomacy and law. With other two classics
named Yili (Rites) and Liji (Book of Rites) later, it strictly stipulated
national rites and etiquettes and directing philosophy. Only in Zhouli,
Rites of the Zhou, there were dozens of articles concerning with jade
use and function under different occasions such as politics, sacrifice,
alliance, and military activities, etc. According to the three classics,
special ministry should be set up to manage jade use. It was stipulated
that six jade ritual items should be made to offer sacrifice to heaven,
the earth, the east, the south, the west and the north. There were also
strict regulations on six jade tablets used by emperors, dukes, marquises,
earls, viscounts and barons respectively. Jade ware can be divided into
following categories - ritual utensil, funeral utensil, accessory, currency,
weapon, diplomatic gift, musical instrument and food according to the
functions listed in the three classics. Simple carving, careful handling
and not mixing private and public ritual vessel were basic rules to follow
in jade use.
Ancient Chinese believed jade the essence of Heaven and the Earth, so
they carved jade into birds and beasts and worshiped as totems. Then witchcraft
soon applied jade as percussion instrument since it sounded pleasing to
the ear and traveled far. After people knew musical scales, jade became
musical instrument. The ancients seemingly tended to associate jade with
heroes who made great contributions, for Emperor Yan, God of Farming and
Emperor Huang who united China first.
Jade was also the symbol of power. In the ancient time, only aristocrats
could own jade wares. The imperial seal of the Qin dynasty, the first
feudal society in China, was made of jade. The seal was later hunt by
seigneurs to prove they were the real Heavenly Sons.
Furthermore, more noble attributes were given to jade, making it a standard
of morality. Confucius even concluded jade had 11 virtues, namely benevolence,
fidelity, polite etiquette, wisdom and sincerity, etc. Hence, it was not
only a decoration but also a symbol of ethics and norms. People then threw
themselves into the vogue to ware jade accessories. It was said that a
gentleman would never leave his jade ornaments.
Jade was believed capable of standing for Heaven, the Earth, the east,
the west, the south and the north and emperors. It can be messenger between
Heaven and mankind. In the ancient times, Yu, Chinese character meaning
jade, was the same with Wang (king). The three horizontal strokes stringed
by a central vertical stroke represent Heaven, the Earth and mankind respectively.
Hence yu, is always used in Chinese to call something precious and jade
had always been treasured in China as the royal gemstone.
Chinese people believed jade had supernatural power. Using jade wares
and jade ornaments could resist invasion of evil influence and avoid evil
apparitions and secure safety and auspiciousness.
Sounding strange, some people believed, however, that jade was edible
and could keep one physically immortal. Most of them are Taoists.
These precious stones played significant role in the development and spread
of religions in China. Since belief the ancients bestowed with jade is
coincident with religion in many aspects, jade serves religion. In the
Buddhism, the Pure Land is composed of gold, silver, agate, coral, amber
and gray jade. Thus Chinese Buddhism emphasizes collecting and using various
precious stones. In Famen Temple in Shaanxi province, near Xian, among
the four Buddhist Relics discovered, one was placed in tailor made jade
coffin. The Buddhas and Buddhism musical instruments in the Potala Palace
and Ta'er Lamasery are mostly decorated with lazuli, turquoise, agate,
gray jade and white jade. Until the Tang dynasty, Buddhism reached its
peak, and jade carvings concerning with Buddhism, such as Amitabha, Kwan-yin,
prayer beads, avalanched as amulets to protect people from disease and
evil and agents to carry their emotion, expectation and belief to Buddha.
Alike, in Taoism, jade has such functions too. |
