1. Historical Origins

Jadeite, hailed as the "King of Jade," carries millennia of cultural heritage from Chinese civilization, with a history both profound and mysterious.

l Origin of the Name and Early History

The name "翡翠" (feicuì, jadeite) stems from a "beautiful misunderstanding." As early as the Han Dynasty, the ancient dictionary Shuowen Jiezi recorded: "翡 (fěi) refers to a red-feathered bird; 翠 (cuì) refers to a blue-feathered bird." The ancients used the colors of these two beautiful birds to name this gemstone due to its resemblance to their plumage, hence it came to be called "翡翠."

The use of jadeite dates back to the Neolithic Age, approximately 8,000 years ago. During the Yangshao culture period, ancient Chinese people had already begun crafting jadeite into ornaments and tools. By the Shang and Zhou dynasties, its utilization gradually increased. Exquisitely crafted and diversely shaped jadeite ornaments have been unearthed from Shang Dynasty tombs.

l Flourishing Development in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Jadeite truly rose to prominence during the Qing Dynasty, particularly under the obsession of Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi, elevating it to a "royal favorite." During the Qianlong era, the Imperial Workshops produced a vast number of jadeite artifacts, solidifying its noble status. Empress Dowager Cixi was even more fervently obsessed with jadeite. She owned countless jadeite tableware, decorative pieces, and jewelry, even using jadeite chopsticks for meals and jadeite teacups for drinking tea.

2.Culture & Meaning

Jadeite holds profound symbolic significance in Chinese culture. It represents auspiciousness, happiness, and fulfillment, serving as an important mascot in traditional culture. Green jadeite symbolizes life, hope, health, and wealth, while red jadeite represents harvest and achievement. When red, green, and purple converge, it forms "Fu Lu Shou" (Blessings, Prosperity, Longevity) jadeite, embodying the wish for longevity, wealth, and health.

In Confucian culture, jadeite is endowed with the philosophical connotation of "the gentleman compares his virtue to jade." Its warm and smooth texture symbolizes benevolence, its toughness represents wisdom, and its consistency in appearance and substance signifies loyalty. Thus, it becomes a spiritual anchor for scholars and officials in their self-cultivation and moral refinement.