"Beads of jade for beauty..." these words are hailed in the popular Disney movie, Mulan. Jade has been a popular stone in Chinese culture since it was defined by Xu Zhen during his lifetime of 58-147 A.D. Growing up, and still today, my grandmother always wears a single jade bracelet on her wrist. Jewelry I recieved as gifts were frequently made of jade, and it is truly an invaluable stone for the Chinese culture.
Chinese thinker and political leader Confucius believed there was culture, meaning, and humanity behind jade.
'The wise have likened jade to virtue. For them, its polish and brilliancy represent the whole of purity; its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the sureness of intelligence; its angles, which do not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice; the pure and prolonged sound, which it gives forth when one strikes it, represents music. Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws, always showing themselves through the transparency, call to mind sincerity..."
Referred to as Yu in Chinese, it was believed to be the most beautiful stone of all associated with merit, grace and dignity. Most words associated with morals in the Chinese language begin with the word Yu. Jade has influenced all walks of life, and in past history young girls were named with the prefix of Yu (jade), reflecting the love of their parents.
As I open a jewelry box and find numerous gifts of jade sitting in the drawers, I know my family has given me the gift of beauty, both tangible and intangible.
Chinese thinker and political leader Confucius believed there was culture, meaning, and humanity behind jade.
'The wise have likened jade to virtue. For them, its polish and brilliancy represent the whole of purity; its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the sureness of intelligence; its angles, which do not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice; the pure and prolonged sound, which it gives forth when one strikes it, represents music. Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws, always showing themselves through the transparency, call to mind sincerity..."
Referred to as Yu in Chinese, it was believed to be the most beautiful stone of all associated with merit, grace and dignity. Most words associated with morals in the Chinese language begin with the word Yu. Jade has influenced all walks of life, and in past history young girls were named with the prefix of Yu (jade), reflecting the love of their parents.
As I open a jewelry box and find numerous gifts of jade sitting in the drawers, I know my family has given me the gift of beauty, both tangible and intangible.
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