Economic impact Of Jade In The Past. What is Jade and Where did it Come From

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Economic Impact of Jade in the Past
Abstract
This paper will focus on a precious gem known as jade. Jade has been in use for a long time within the Chinese culture where it was believed to be a symbol of health and purity. Aside from providing a comprehensive history of the gem, this paper will also focus on the economic impact of jade in the past. Today, the gem is considered to be quite precious around the world. However, in China, it is considered more precious than gold. The rich spend a lot of money gathering artifacts, designs, and carvings made from jade and this helps to establish the gem’s worth further. This paper will thus seek to offer more information regarding the gem.
Background Information
In Western countries, precious gems like diamonds are often associated with status, and only the rich are found worthy to behold them. However, in ancient China, jade was not associated with status only but was considered a “symbol of status, spirituality, purity, and health for over 9000 years” (Desjardins). Lyons supports the above statement by noting that “during the first two millennia of Chinese culture, jade was thought to be of supernatural origin, an emanation of streams and mountains, something created by the forces of nature, born within the earth and endowed with transcendental qualities” (4). In some instances, jade was used in some rites and as Lyons notes certain forms or types of the gem were considered “necessary for the emperor to pay homage to heaven and earth, from whom he derived his mandate to rule.” Emperors used jade to enforce their rule as well as to feoff. So, this gem had quite a purpose. However, as is always the case, people change and turn their beliefs towards different things, and in China, this happened “toward the end of the Chou period” (Lyons, 4). At this particular point, jade appears to have become a global gem, and everyone is interested in it. The implication is that the religious significance it had acquired starts to diminish. However, even as this happened, never at one point in the history of the gem did jade lose its appeal. Even though as indicated by Lyons its use decreased between the 3rd and 7th centuries A.D., its appeal remained. The Chinese were intrigued by the gem and continued to treat it specially. So, it did retain its “aura of a magic substance” (Lyons, 5).
It is believed that at some point in the history of China, there was a Jade Age just like the Bronze age. People were curious and intrigued by this gem that everything revolved around it. Today, there are a lot of materials that were made from the gem whose purpose cannot be explained while considering the appearance of the object. However, this is simply to show that at some point in the history and culture of the Chinese, Jade was highly esteemed and used in almost everything that was considered sacred and important in the Chinese culture.
What is Jade and Where did it Come From
Jade is considered a precious gem (more precious than gold) in China. However, China is not the only place that this gem can be found. Being naturally occurring means that it can be found anywhere in the world. However, it only exists in the following countries: New Zealand, Russia, Guatemala, Myanmar, and China. However, it is in China that the ancient gem was gifted meaning and esteemed to the levels it enjoys today. As shown below, it was used for beautiful designs, decorations, furnishings, carvings, as well as jewelry.
Figure 1Figure 2
As seen in the two images shown above, jade was used to carve beautiful artifacts. These had special purposes and could only be used by those higher in the social status.
As already indicated, jade is not similar to other gems, and it is believed that there are two different types of precious rock. One of them is known as the Nephrite while the other is the Jadeite. The Nephrite has its origins in China and was the most common of the two in ancient China. It can be described as “milky or greenish white.” On the other hand, the jadeite is emerald green and is believed to have made its way in China later. Today, this type is imported from Burma. However, there is no distinguishing factor between the two types which means that they are priced the same.
Figure 3: NephriteFigure 4: Jadeite
Value of Jade
Figure 3 (You cannot put a price on this!!)
Gold has a price; jade is priceless.
This Chinese proverb is a true testament to how jade was and is being priced in the markets today. According to Desjardins, “jade is valued differently than other comparable gemstones or precious metals. Jade is not fungible like gold, and jade is not a single polished and cut crystal, such as in the case of diamonds and rubies.” This means that there is no known way of establishing a pricing system for jade and this has been the case in the world for a long time. In his article, Chovanoc notes that the greatest distinguishing factor between jade and other precious metals is its uniqueness. Every piece of jade is unique in its way, and the val...