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Chinese
Jade
History
Burmese
Jadeite
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Burmese jadeite
Myanmar jade China
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Jade is one of the stones
with a long history because from earliest
time Man used this mineral among other made
his tools. Among the archaeological finds
excavated in both Europe and Asia were jade
artifacts of a wide variety. Swiss Lake
dwellings, Neolithic sites in Ireland,
Brittany, Sicily and parts of Europe,
Central Asia and China yielded jade objects
to archaeologists. An old nephrite workshop
was found near Maurach in Switzerland.
Nephrite or jadeite has been found in
Austria, North Germany, Italy and among the
Alps. The earliest jade relics discovered so
far in this country (Myanmar) date back to
the time of ancient Pyus (A.D. 3rd to 9th
century). They include ornaments like beads,
rings and carvings of elephant figurines.
Ancient people used jade not only for
practical purpose but also for serving their
superstitions. Polished axe-pendants of jade
found in Malta were used to ward off |
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evil spirits. Greeks called jade
"kidney stone" because they discovered that it cured the diseases of the kidney.
When the Spanish annexed Mexico they discovered a kind of jade there and called
it the loin stone. Historians say that Sir Walter Raleigh introduced jade to
England and used the Spanish name for it "jade". To a layman the term 'jade" is
rather misleading. Myanmars call it nkyauk sein" which literally means green
stone, but jade is not necessarily of green color only, and there are stones
other than jade which are green, but Burmese jadeite is probably the best green
stone.
Myanmar jade is Burmese
jadeite
and has high commercial
value and the area around the confluence of the Uru stream and the
Ayeyarwady or Irrawaddy River in the Kachin State of Myanmar is the main
source of supply. But curiously enough this semiprecious stone in the
past had little or no use in its native land although it plays an
important role in the cultural life of the Chinese.
Myanmar Jade history is a long one
and it seems to have been
known to the Chinese since the dawn of their history, for they used it
for a variety of purpose: social, religious and ceremonial. Excavations
at the prehistoric and historic sites in various parts of China produced
numerous artifacts and relics made of jade ranging from hunting and
agricultural implements such as flint, axes, arrowheads, knives,
daggers, chisels, spearheads to religious and cultural symbols and
insignias such as status figurines, seals, mirrors, mortuary amulets,
ornaments, jewellery, musical instruments, jade flute and jade luck
gong.
Chinese craftsmen through
the ages have shown their extraordinary skill in jade carving. The Han
Period (200 B.0 - A.D. 200) of Chinese history achieved a high degree of
excellence in jade carving and engraving.
Chinese superstitions
regarding jade
is well documented. They
believed that jade possessed supernatural |
Burmese Jadeite
Chinese Jade History |
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powers and transcendental
values. It is imbued with "Yang" which means soul substance associated
with all gods. Hence to possess this stone is to fulfill one's physical
and spiritual needs. According to ancient Chinese, all elixirs of life
were concentrated in jade. Pounded jade and gold, if taken, is believed
to renew youth and promote longevity. Bits of jade were swallowed with
water by Chinese royalty and nobility as jade history is telling. |
Nephrite was was also regarded as protection
against all natural and supernatural
disturbances. Thus sages, philosophers and alchemists drank dew from jade cups
and stored their food and medicine amulets, etc., in the jade bowls or
jade-covered containers. To prevent putrefaction nine apertures of the corpse of
a high-born were blocked with jade gold. While ancient Egyptians preserved the
dead body by mummifications, ancient Chinese encased the corpse with jade to
prevent decomposition. Jade stone coffins were excavated from royal tombs. Jade
suits sewn with golden threads draping bodies of a Han dynasty prince and
princess are on display at the Beijing Palace Museum. |
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Ancient Chinese belief in after life
and developed the custom of burying jade
objects with the dead. Mortuary jade objects
were generally of two kinds-- first,
representatives of articles of which the
dead person was particularly fond of and
everyday items which he or she had used, and
second, charms and amulets which would keep
the body intact and help its resurrection
when the spirit returns to its abode. Those
who could not afford jade made paper dummies
to be burnt at the grave.
Most of the text on this page is from
Dr.Khin Maung Nyunt
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