The Finest of Stones

What is the finest of stones, you ask?  Well, according to China's first dictionary which was written by Xu Shen and presented at court court in 1000 CE the answer to this question is jade.  It was said long ago that jade was the finest of stones because it embraces the five virtues:  clarity typified by its luster, rectitude by its translucence, wisdom by the purity and penetrating quality of its sound when struck, courage in that it can be broken but not bent, and equity in that it has sharp edges that do not injure.

As the Chinese dialect evolved over time, the word "jade" was applied to the finest and most mysterious of things known to people.  Included in this list were objects used by the emperor of China, the moon, women, sexual anatomy, and also the highest deity in the Daoist religion, the Jade Emperor.  The jade stone had a long history of use in China.  Museum collections around the world indicate thousands of pieces have survived which everyone agrees are very old.  However, no one seems to know just how ancient they are.  Different types of jades have been discoverd all over China.  Upon closer inspection you may decide that its reputation for being the finest of stones is well deserved! 

Best regards from the East,

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.