In this post, we will start with a very special Chinese character, “珏” (jué), and explore the splendid and profound mysteries of jade in Chinese culture, as well as the relationship between jade culture and Chinese characters.
Cultural Connotations of jade
When we see the character “珏,” it might feel a bit unfamiliar, but its form is quite interesting. In ancient oracle bone script, “珏” resembles two pieces of 玉jade strung together with a rope, representing the original imagery of two beautiful jade pieces combined. From this simple yet meaningful origin, we can glimpse how deeply rooted jade is in Chinese culture.
Throughout the long river of history, jade has evolved from a mere precious item to an important symbol carrying rich cultural connotations. In ancient sacrificial rituals, jade ceremonial objects such as jade 圭 and jade 碧 were seen as mediums to communicate with deities, representing reverence and respect for the divine. In the imperial court, jade objects of different shapes and forms became symbols of status and rank, showcasing the wearer’s power and hierarchy. It can be said that jade has permeated every aspect of Chinese social life, becoming an indispensable part of Chinese culture.
What is it that makes jade so beloved in Chinese culture?
First, jade possesses unparalleled aesthetic value.
Its warm, smooth texture and delicate luster give it a unique beauty. Different types of jade, whether snow-white, emerald-green, or mysteriously glowing, all evoke a deep sense of beauty.
Second, jade is imbued with rich cultural symbolism.
It represents auspiciousness, happiness, and peace. Throughout history, people have worn jade ornaments, hoping to harness its power to ward off evil and protect themselves and their families. Moreover, jade is seen as a symbol of noble character, as the saying 君子比德于玉goes, “A gentleman’s virtue is compared to jade.” The qualities of jade—gentleness, resilience, and purity—embody the virtues of benevolence, wisdom, and integrity.
Additionally, traditional beliefs hold that jade has health benefits.
Long-term wearing of jade ornaments is thought to promote blood circulation and benefit physical health. Although this claim lacks modern scientific evidence, it is widely circulated among the people, further deepening their affection for jade.
玉 and Chinese language
Characters with 玉 in names
It is precisely because jade carries so many beautiful meanings in Chinese culture that characters with the component “玉” often relate closely to jade. Moreover, many Chinese people prefer to use characters with the component 玉when naming their children. For example, “瑾” (jǐn), meaning beautiful jade, symbolizes purity and noble character. The idiom “怀瑾握瑜” (huái jǐn wò yú) describes someone with pure and beautiful virtues. Naming a child “瑾瑜” reflects parents’ hopes for their child to become morally upright and talented. Another example is “琳” (lín), which refers to beautiful jade or stones, symbolizing preciousness. Names containing “琳” often give an impression of beauty and elegance. Similarly, “瑞” (ruì), originally a jade token, represents good fortune. Names like “瑞泽” (ruì zé) or “瑞琪” (ruì qí) express parents’ wishes for their child to be blessed with good luck and prosperity.
Semantic 玉 transforms into 王
You may have noticed that when “玉” (jade) serves as a semantic component, especially on the left side of a character, it often transforms into “王” (wáng). For instance, common characters like “珍” (zhēn), meaning precious treasure, often relate to jade or other valuable items; “珠” (zhū), originally meaning pearl, refers to a type of round jade; “球” (qiú), initially referring to jade, later came to mean spherical objects; “理” (lǐ), originally meaning to work jade, later extended to mean reason or logic; and “玻” (bō) and “璃” (lí), originally related to jade, now refer to glass or similar transparent materials. This transformation occurred because, in ancient times, the characters for “玉” and “王” were similar in form. As Chinese characters were simplified and standardized, “玉” gradually became “王” when used as a left semantic component for ease of writing and uniformity.
Idioms of 玉
In the Chinese language, there are over 300 characters formed by the semantic component 玉. Moreover, there are many idioms containing the character “玉.” For example, “冰清玉洁” (bīng qīng yù jié) describes someone’s moral purity as clear as ice and jade; “亭亭玉立” (tíng tíng yù lì) often depicts a woman’s graceful posture, standing tall like jade; “金口玉言” (jīn kǒu yù yán) originally referred to the emperor’s words, now used to describe words of great value and weight; and “抛砖引玉” (pāo zhuān yǐn yù) is a modest expression, meaning to offer a humble opinion or work to elicit better ones from others.
Why so many characters with 玉?
The Long History of Jade Culture
- Chinese jade culture has a long and rich history. As early as the Neolithic Age, jade objects appeared, such as the 玉猪龙 jade pig-dragons of the Hongshan culture and the 玉琮jade cong of the Liangzhu culture. These early jade objects were not only decorative but also related to religious rituals, social status, and ceremonial systems.
- Due to the widespread use and importance of jade in ancient social life, people needed a rich vocabulary to describe jade-related objects.
For example, the six ceremonial jade objects: 璧 (bì), 琮 (cóng), 圭 (guī), 璋 (zhāng), 琥 (hǔ), and 璜 (huáng).
- 璧 (bì): A circular disc with a round hole in the center, symbolizing perfection and harmony. It was used by the ancient Han Chinese in sacrificial rituals. A jade ring with a radius three times that of its hole is called a 璧. It also served as a ceremonial object for nobles, and in different eras and contexts, it functioned as a token of trust or a decorative item.
- 琮 (cóng): Round on the inside and square on the outside, shaped like a tube, representing the harmonious unity between heaven and earth. It embodies the philosophy of “璧圆像天，琮方似地” (the round 璧 symbolizes heaven, and the square 琮 symbolizes earth.)
- 圭 (guī): A long, rectangular shape with a pointed top and a flat bottom, symbolizing authority and nobility.
- 璋 (zhāng): Similar in shape to the 圭, a 璋 is half of a 圭. It is a flat, rectangular prism with a斜刃 (slanted edge) or叉刃 (forked edge) at one end and a hole at the other, representing mystery and power.
- 琥 (hǔ): A jade ornament carved with tiger patterns in圆雕 (full relief),浮雕 (bas-relief), or线刻 (line engraving), symbolizing bravery and strength.
- 璜 (huáng): An arc-shaped jade, resembling half of a 璧, symbolizing beauty and harmony.
These jade-related object names gave rise to many Chinese characters with the semantic component 玉.
The Rich Symbolic Meaning of Jade
In Chinese culture, jade symbolizes beauty, purity, and nobility. For example, “瑞” (ruì), derived from jade, originally meant a jade token, later extended to mean auspiciousness and good omens. Ancient emperors used jade to represent good fortune, such as the 玉玺 “imperial jade seal,” symbolizing power and legitimacy.
People use characters with 玉 to describe noble virtues. For instance, “瑜” (yú), meaning beautiful jade, is often used to symbolize virtues, as in the idiom “瑕不掩瑜” (xiá bù yǎn yú), meaning flaws cannot obscure virtues, where “瑜” embodies the beautiful qualities symbolized by jade. 琼 (qióng): Often translated as “fine jade” or “beautiful jade,” it symbolizes purity, beauty, and rarity. It is frequently used in poetry and literature to describe something exquisite and precious. 瑶 (yáo): Refers to a type of precious jade, often associated with mythical or celestial realms. It symbolizes something divine, unattainable, and otherworldly.
The Need for Detailed Classification
Due to the need for detailed classification of jade, many Chinese characters with 玉 have emerged.
Classification by Texture
- 珉 (mín): Refers to a jade-like beautiful stone, a type of mineral with a texture similar to jade but of slightly inferior quality. 珉石 is often used as a substitute for jade due to its similar appearance, though it holds less value.
- 瑛 (yīng): Refers to the luster of jade or jade-like beautiful stones, emphasizing their texture with a jade-like gloss and feel. 瑛石 is often used to describe minerals that have the luster of jade but are not true jade.
- 璆 (qiú): Refers to fine jade or jade instruments such as chimes, typically characterized by a hard, delicate texture and excellent quality. 璆玉, due to its superior texture, is often used to create noble ceremonial objects and musical instruments.
Classification by Color
- 璊 (mén): Refers to red jade, specifically used to describe jade in the red spectrum, highlighting its color characteristics. 璊玉, with its unique red hue, is often seen as a symbol of good fortune and celebration.
- 碧 (bì): Originally refers to bluish-green jade, commonly used to represent green jade, evoking a sense of freshness and vitality. 碧玉, with its vibrant color, is often used in decorative items and artworks.
- 璚 (jué): An ancient variant of “琼” (qióng), often referring to red jade or fine jade, later also used to describe the pure white and crystalline appearance of jade, with color references ranging from red to white. 璚玉, with its diverse colors, is often used in various ceremonial and decorative contexts.
Classification by Origin
- 珣 (xún): “珣玗琪” (xún yú qí) refers to fine jade from the ancient Dongyi region. The character “珣” is specifically used to denote jade from this particular origin. 珣玉, due to its unique origin and texture, is often regarded as a precious treasure. Its rarity and cultural significance make it highly valued in both historical and modern contexts.
- 珣 (xún): “珣玗琪” (xún yú qí) refers to fine jade from the ancient Dongyi region. The character “珣” is specifically used to denote jade from this particular origin. 珣玉, due to its unique origin and texture, is often regarded as a precious treasure. Its rarity and cultural significance make it highly valued in both historical and modern contexts.
- 砡 (yù): Describes stones that resemble jade, with some views suggesting its connection to jade from specific regions. Although its texture differs from jade, it is still considered valuable locally. 砡石, due to its similarity to jade, is often used in local crafts and decorations. Its use reflects the local appreciation for materials that, while not true jade, still carry aesthetic and cultural value.
The Crafting of Jade Objects
- Material Selection: “璞” (pú) refers to uncarved jade, the raw material mined from mountains, which professionals select for potential before further processing. “玤” (bàng) refers to a stone inferior to jade, used to describe jade-like but lower-quality stones during material selection.
- Cutting: “班” (bān) originally means to divide or separate, referring to the process of cutting jade into different shapes or parts for further crafting. “理” (lǐ) originally means to work jade, involving cutting raw jade according to design, following the stone’s grain to minimize waste and flaws.
- Carving: “琢” (zhuó) means to carve jade, as in the phrase “精雕细琢” (jīng diāo xì zhuó), referring to the meticulous carving of jade into intricate patterns and shapes.
- Polishing: “莹” (yíng) means glossy and transparent, describing the ideal effect of polished jade, showcasing its beauty and quality.
Appreciating and Evaluating Jade
- “玩” (wán) means to admire or handle, as people often hold jade to feel its texture, temperature, and weight, appreciating and evaluating its quality through close contact, reflecting their love for jade.
- “弄” (nòng) is similar to “玩,” meaning to handle or fiddle with, as people examine jade from various angles to better appreciate its shape, craftsmanship, and quality, further understanding and evaluating its merits.
- The purpose of “玩” and “弄” is to check for “瑕” (xiá), meaning flaws or spots on jade, often used in terms like “瑕疵” (xiá cī, flaws), “无暇” (wú xiá, flawless), and the aforementioned “瑕不掩瑜.”
Summary
Jade holds a significant place in Chinese culture, with its deep historical roots and rich cultural connotations giving rise to numerous characters featuring the semantic component 玉 (jade). From material selection and crafting to appreciation, each stage of jade’s journey has inspired corresponding characters. These characters not only document the intricate craftsmanship of jade but also reflect people’s aesthetic appreciation and emotional connection to this precious stone.
The abundance of characters with 玉 is a testament to the central role jade has played in Chinese culture for millennia. From its use in rituals and ceremonies to its symbolic representation of virtue, beauty, and power, jade has enriched the Chinese language with a vast vocabulary that continues to resonate today.
Moreover, idioms related to jade, such as 如花似玉 (as beautiful as flowers and jade), 金枝玉叶 (golden branches and jade leaves, referring to nobility), 玉树临风 (a graceful and elegant figure), 守身如玉 (to preserve one’s virtue like jade), 怜香惜玉 (to cherish beauty and jade, often used to describe a man’s affection for a woman), 琼楼玉宇 (a magnificent jade palace), 金玉满堂 (a house full of gold and jade, symbolizing wealth and prosperity), and 玉石俱焚 (jade and stone burned together, meaning total destruction), etc, further enrich the expressive power of the Chinese language. By exploring these idioms, you can gain a deeper understanding of jade culture and the profound relationship between Chinese characters and culture.
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