The jade stone has been revered in China since Neolithic times. Jade (yu) was firstly utilised for tools because of its hardness and strength, but later appeared on ornaments and ceremonial vessels for its decorative value. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was believed that jade was empowered with magical and life-giving properties, and the dead were buried with jadeware. Opulent jade suits, meant to prevent decomposi- tion, have been found in Han tombs, while Taoist alchemists, striving for immortality, ate elixirs of powdered jade.
Jade's value lies not just in its scarcity, but depends also on its colour, hardness and the skill with which it has been carved.
While the pure white form is the most highly valued, the stone varies in translucency and colour, including many shades of green, brown and black. China's most famous jade comes from Hotan (p798) in Xinjiang province; much of what is sold in Hong Kong is fake.
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