Jade

Jade is a name for two different rocks.

People use them for jewelry and art. One type is often green. It can also be white or black.

The other type has many colors. It can be lavender, orange, or brown. Some even look like bright green leaves. People in many lands love jade. They use it to make beautiful things.

It is a very special stone.

Jade is a name for two different types of rocks.

People use these rocks for jewelry and art. The first type is called nephrite. It is usually green. It can also be white, yellow, or black. The second type is called jadeite. This rock has many colors. It can be lavender, orange, brown, or black. Some jadeite is a bright green called imperial green.

Many cultures have used jade for a long time. In China, jade was very special. It was sometimes more valuable than gold. People made beautiful objects and even burial suits from it. In Japan, jade was a symbol of power. It is the national stone of Japan. In Korea, kings used jade in gold crowns.

Some jade is more valuable than others. Type A jade is natural and has no man-made changes. It is very clear and bright. Type B and Type C jade have been changed with resin or color.

Most of the world's high-quality jadeite comes from Myanmar. It is found in the northern part of the country.

Jade is a special name for two different types of decorative rocks.

Scientists call the first type nephrite. It is a rock made of calcium and magnesium. Nephrite is usually green, but it can also be white, yellow, or black. The second type is called jadeite. This is a different kind of rock made of sodium and aluminum. Jadeite comes in many colors like lavender, orange, brown, and black. It can even be a bright emerald green. People call this special green color "imperial" jade.

Collectors look for different grades of jadeite. There are three main types: Type A, Type B, and Type C. Type A is the most valuable because it is natural. It has not been treated with anything. It is prized for being clear and having bright colors. This type is a symbol of purity and harmony in many cultures. Type B jade has been treated with resin. Type C jade has been treated with color.

Many ancient people found jade very important. In China, jade was often worth more than gold or silver. People used it to make beautiful art and even burial suits for kings. In Japan, jade has been used for bracelets for 7,000 years. It is the national stone of Japan. In Korea, royalty used comma-shaped jade on their gold crowns.

Ancient people in Mesoamerica, like the Maya, also valued jade highly.

Finding jade has a long history. In China, nephrite was found in places like the Ningshao area. Dushan jade was even mined as early as 6000 BC. In Southeast Asia, a huge trade network moved nephrite jade for 3,000 years. This network was older than the famous Silk Road. In Myanmar, the best jadeite is found in the north. Most of the world's high-quality jadeite comes from this area.

Today, jade is still a very popular gemstone. In Myanmar, the best jade comes from the Kachin State. It is found in the Jade Tract near the Uyu River. Some mines, like Khansee, produce a special rock called maw sit sit. In China, the value of jade has gone up quickly. In 2010, some white "mutton fat" jade could sell for $3,000 an ounce. This was ten times more than it cost ten years before.

Jade is an umbrella term for two distinct types of decorative rocks.

These stones are used globally for jewelry, ornaments, and ritual objects. Although people use one name, the rocks are mineralogically different. One type is nephrite, a silicate of calcium and magnesium. This mineral belongs to the amphibole group. The second type is jadeite, a silicate of sodium and aluminum. This mineral belongs to the pyroxene group. While nephrite is often green, it can also be white, yellow, or black. Jadeite offers a wider spectrum of colors. It can be white, lavender, orange, brown, or black. It can even be a rare blue. The most famous variety is an emerald green called "imperial" jade.

Collectors and experts classify jadeite into three specific grades.

Type A jade is natural and untreated. It is the most valuable and sought-after variety. This type is prized for its high translucency and vibrant colors. In many East Asian cultures, Type A jade symbolizes purity, harmony, and protection. Type B jade has been enhanced with resin. Type C jade has been treated with colorant. These treatments change the stone's original state. Because of this, Type A remains the highest standard for collectors. Understanding these grades helps people determine the true value of a specimen.

History shows that jade has held immense value for thousands of years. In China, jade was often more valuable than gold or silver.

During the Shang Dynasty, between 1600 and 1050 BC, Dushan jade ornaments were placed in royal tombs. Ancient Chinese cultures used nephrite for ceremonial items and even full burial suits. In the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang, white jade was collected from rivers. The Yarkand, Yurungkash, and Karakash rivers were key sources. The Kingdom of Khotan sent white jade as yearly tribute to the Chinese Imperial court. Scholars even used jade for calligraphy brush rests. Some believed breathing through jade opium pipes would grant longevity.

Jadeite became a major part of Chinese culture later in history. Most high-quality jadeite was imported from Burma after about 1800.

In China, this variety is called fei cui, or kingfisher jade. This name refers to the bright colors resembling kingfisher bird feathers. While jadeite became a favorite of the Qing Dynasty aristocracy, scholars kept a strong attachment to nephrite. They viewed white nephrite, or Hetian jade, as a symbol of a nobleman. The cultural importance of jade is so high that the Chinese character 玉 (yù) is used in many symbolic phrases. It can describe a beautiful face or even a person's graceful posture.

In Japan, jade has a deep connection to the past.

It has been used for bracelets since the Jomon period, roughly 7,000 years ago. Jade is the national stone of Japan. Scientific analysis shows that all Japanese jade from this period came from Itoigawa. Ancient Japanese culture specifically respected green jade. Some believe this was because green represented fertility and the life of the earth. Similarly, in Korea, jade was a long-term tradition. During the Silla Kingdom, royalty used comma-shaped jade on their gold crowns. These items were often found in elite burials.

Southeast Asia also has a massive history with jade.

A prehistoric trading network moved nephrite jade across the region for 3,000 years. This maritime road was active between 2000 BCE and 500 CE. This network was actually older than the famous Silk Road. It connected people in Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and many other islands. In Myanmar, the supply of jadeite is incredibly high. It is estimated that Myanmar produces over 70% of the world's high-quality jadeite. The best deposits are in the Kachin State. This area includes the Jade Tract near the Uyu River.

Today, the jade market remains very significant.

In Myanmar, several mines like Phakant-gyi and Khansee are active. The Khansee mine is unique because it produces maw sit sit. This is a specific type of jade rock rich in kosmochlor. The value of jade has also seen massive growth in China. In 2010, "mutton fat" jade could sell for $3,000 per ounce. This was a tenfold increase from the price just ten years earlier. From ancient burial suits to modern jewelry, jade continues to be a global treasure.