Southern Red Agate, historically known as "Red Jade" or "Crimson Gemstone," is a type of jade unique to China. Its origins can be traced back over 3,000 years, and it carries profound cultural significance as well as rich symbolic meaning.

1.Historical Origins

Southern Red Agate has been treasured since the Neolithic Age. The oldest known pieces—ancient shell coins carved by the Jinsha people—are held in the Sichuan Jinsha Site Museum. They reveal early China's sacred reverence for red, a tradition that lives on today.

During the Warring States period, Southern Red Agate had already become a significant ornament among the nobility. The Yunnan Museum houses excavated Southern Red jewelry from the ancient Dian Kingdom era, while the Beijing Palace Museum holds an exquisitely crafted Southern Red Agate "Phoenix-Head Cup" from the Qing Dynasty. Designated as a National Grade One Cultural Relic, it serves as vital material evidence for the study of Southern Red Agate artifacts.

2.Culture & Meaning

Southern Red Agate occupies a distinct place in traditional Chinese culture. Its vibrant red has been celebrated for centuries as the “imperial color” and a symbol of auspicious fortune. In China, red is more than a hue—it is an enduring emblem of joy and prosperity, deeply woven into the cultural expression of hope and blessing.

In Buddhist culture, Southern Red Agate is recognized as one of the "Seven Buddhist Treasures," known as the "red pearl," symbolizing great fortune and auspicious blessings. Tibetan Buddhists regard it as a sacred object, traditionally used in crafting prayer beads and ritual implements.