Imperial Jade

Jade means "the most beautiful stone" and was traditionally considered a royal gem from the earliest dynasties up until present times. It is inextricably woven into ancient and modern Oriental culture. The use of Jade in the Orient dates beck some 12 000 years and was an integral part of commercial, religious and ceremonial life. The finest Jade was used in Imperial courts and was restricted from use for the masses in everyday life.

Most Jade used prior to the 17th century was Nephrite - also known as Ming Jade. Although westerners do not normally consider Jade to be a "precious" gemstone, Jade was invaluable to the oriental people of ancient times, where Jade was held in higher esteem than materials such as gold or silver. There is an ancient proverb that says: "Gold is estimable, but Jade is priceless."

Ming or Nephrite Jade was used extensively during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) to carve jewellery, functional objects and animal figurines similar to those that line the road to the royal Ming tombs north of Beijing.

Jade was used as a talisman to protect the wearer and as a status symbol indicating the dignity, grace and morality of the owner. In the early Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), potentates and officials were buried with Jade artefacts to protect in the afterlife.

Jade was described as the fairest of stones, endowed with five virtues:
Charity is typified by its lustre, bright yet warm;
Rectitude by its translucency, revealing the colour 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.