The History Behind China's Jade

This week Natalie takes you back to China's Stone Age where Jade was discovered, and explains the history and journey it's taken to become very popular in Chinese art and culture.

JTV is one of the leading experts on gemstones and is the best source on YouTube for all things gem related. Featuring gem history, the science behind the stones, gemstones in pop culture, and much more, you too can become a gem expert by immersing yourself in JTV’s channel. Natalie, our host, is a Graduate Gemologist and an Applied Jewelry Professional.

[newname]

You can make crystals, you can make diamonds, you can melt down gold and make another piece, but you can't do that for jade. Each piece is unique. The beauty is not always how pure it is. Because jade almost never come without impurities, understanding the beauty of jade makes a culture of accepting weakness and imperfections and work around it to make the whole piece a better piece of art, a norm.

[sage]

For me personally, jade holds childhood memories. My mom used to go on business trips to China and would bring back a bunch of cool stuff, among them were a set of jade chopsticks and a jade turtle. This was a time I remember very fondly, now being the sentimental wreck I am I want to find a new jade turtle to replace mine which disappeared into the abyss

[KKSGCKW]

For my family jade is about protection and bringing about luck, fortune and prosperity.
For example those jade bracelets, is both protection and luck. For that bracelet to break, would mean that it broke in order to prevent something bad happening to you.

Every lunar new year I receive a new necklace with a new jade pendant that is supposed to keep me safe, and bring me good luck for the new year.

[dvdb]

Jade is one of my favorite stones, and it's pretty hard to choose if you have entire shelves covered with different types of minerals.

[margui]

I love gems. And Jade ( either nephrite or jadeite) is one of my favorite gems. You forgot to mention that in 2008 Jade (nephrite) was included in the Olympic medals in Beijing.

[jadenephrite]

Regarding 1:21, the name Nephrite is derived from the Latin name Lapis Nephriticus which means stone for the kidney. The Maori in New Zealand used Nephrite which they call Pounamu to make adzes called toki, war clubs called mere and amulets called hei tiki and hei matau.

[analikestea]

This video was great! Jade for me brings back so many memories of my year abroad in China. I learned so much about their culture and history and had even more fun. I never take off my light lilac jade bracelet I got in the Jade Buddha temple.

[dacypher]

I came to this video after watching Laoshu's videos. He speaks fluent Chinese and often surprises Chinese people that he understands their language. But it is crazy the number of Chinese people who instantly zero in on his jade bracelet and are fascinated by it, asking him where he got it, etc. He speaks a ton of other languages and no other nationality even notices the bracelet. Very few cultures have a connection with a gemstone the way the Chinese have one with jade.

[cassiemoyles]

Okay this video is actually awesome, gems are so interesting. When I was younger, I would collect all the rocks and gems I could (no matter how heavy haha).

[TheKeroady]

Having worked in Taiwan in the past Jade made quite an impact on me. I learned from the museums what was the Imperial Jade and I was overwhelmed by the amazing carvings. No stone is equal to jade

[fasolashow]

I loved jade even as a kid, and as I was impressed by the chinese culture I found jade to be one of the most beautiful stones and even to this day I still think that way

[AlexTheGreat]

I think jade is now my new favorite stone, its soo amazing

[noendnightmares]

I have Mayan heritage and when I went to China and realized the awe in it I had to start getting jade from China, Guatemala, and New Zealand. It’s sneezing

[jimsquick]

Nephrite is the true, original 'Jade' and the magical stone of the ancient Chinese shamans. Its effects can benefit health and longevity

[erikbetancourt]

Im a guy who has bad lungs and strong allergies (anaphylaxis, nickle and almost allergic to everything). Ive always had Jade since a baby. Now i only buy very good Jade as my bling and meditate with it. It heals me and i love that most people don't know how much worth of Jade i have on:-).

[brendamedina]

When I was small my friends and sister would pick on me for how I look and that would always bring me down and make me feel left out,
then once one beautiful jade bracelet caught my attention then my dad got it for me and ever sense I've had it on it made me free and loved and appreciated by myself 😊😇 Jades really help guys

[MinsterGames]

Bought my first piece of jade and I'm want to know the meaning of it. So far its meaning is interesting.

[kaixinrenbeijan]

It's been 4 years since I purchased my very first Jade bracelet and since then I always wore it wherever I go aside in sleeping and bathing.. My Jade came from Hotian prefecture in Xinjiang province of China personally picked by my aunt working in China and bring it together with her when she came home in our country.. Since then I regard Jade not only as a stone of heaven but also peace and love since Jade symbolises inner peace and universal love as it is one of the stone of the Heart Chakra. Jade is love..

[phantumTom]

Here in hawaii where chinese culture is very prevalent jade definitely is still a big thing. I swear every other baby girl receives a jade bracelet. Growing up i remember my mom having this really nice jade ashtray

[DanielRuiz-fikr]

When I think of Jade I think of wealth and wisdom. When I was a kid I though people with Jade jewelry were the wisest people on the planet. I didn't realize you could just buy them back then.