For about eight thousand years, jade has been the main stone of China. One of the earliest sources of the stone was White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash).
History of stone mining
Rivers near the city of Hetian (aka Khotan, Khotan) in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang (Chinese Turkestan) (Laufer, 1912). From these deposits comes creamy white to greenish jade, with pure white being the most valuable.
The Chinese collected jade from the Karakash River near Hetian (aka Hotan) in Xinjiang province in western China. They believed that jade is a man - and therefore he is attracted to women. Therefore, when searching for jade, naked women were always present. Autumn moonlit nights were considered the best time to search for jade.
Modern stone mining does without ancient Chinese traditions.
History of jadeite
The discovery of jadeite in Myanmar dates back to the 6th century AD or earlier, and was first seen in China in the 13th century. When the Qianlong Emperor saw the pieces of this bright green stone, he was immediately captivated by its beauty.
He sent columns of troops down to capture the deposits. But even the best Chinese armies were no match for the rugged terrain and ferocious people of the Kachin Hills. They returned empty-handed, driven back by malaria, mud, and the tribes that opposed the invaders from the north. After that, Chinese merchants, as a rule, never made an attempt to climb the hills to the mines, being content with what they had.
Gem-quality jadeite is mined only in Myanmar.
History of jade
By the middle of the 16th century, the Spaniards, exploring the New World, discovered a stone that was valued throughout Mesoamerica.
Noticing that it was used for pain in the side and lower back, they named it piedra de ijade (stone for the lower back).
In French it became éjade and then jade, in Italian giade and jade in English. In Latin it was lapis nephriticus (kidney stone). Mesoamerican jade was the mineral now called jade.
The term "jade" is used today to refer to two different rocks, jadeite and jade. Although each of these jade cousins has certain similar characteristics, at the same time they are very different. Like Yin/Yang. Like two different bridges to heaven.
Thus, jadeite is used to create magnificent jewelry, in which diamonds are only a frame framing a magnificent stone.
Jade is an ornamental stone and is often used to create highly artistic works.
