In the eyes of some people, Hetian jade is a stone, but what makes everyone wonder is that the earth is full of stones, why did the Chinese finally choose Hetian jade?
The West is a supporter of gemstone culture, while ours, an ancient country in the East, is the culmination of jade culture; The West likes diamonds, rubies, emeralds, jadeite, etc., but China has a soft spot for Hetian jade.
Compared with Westerners, the Chinese pursue the subtlety of jade, not the brilliance of gemstones.
So why do the Chinese favor Hetian jade so much and regard it as a national jade, and some people even say: Hetian jade, the soul of China.
Today, we might as well unravel this mystery that has existed for thousands of years.
01
Heavenly artifacts
In ancient China, jade was regarded as a sacred object that communicated heaven and earth, so it was often associated with mystical activities such as gods and sacrifices.
For example, the ritual functions of jade are recorded in detail in the Zhou Li, including the use of jade as six instruments to honor the four directions of heaven and earth, which reflects the important position of jade as a medium to communicate heaven and earth in the minds of the ancients.
The oracle bone form of jade, that is, three pieces of beautiful jade are run through with a rope, called "the connection of three jades", symbolizing the jade to heaven, earth and people, and this form itself contains the meaning of jade and heaven and earth.
Therefore, in the hearts of the ancients, Hetian jade was full of spirituality, and this divine culture has been passed down to this day. This is where the auspicious meaning of Hetian jade comes from.
In traditional Chinese culture, it is endowed with many beautiful meanings, such as peace, auspiciousness, wealth and so on. These meanings led people to believe that wearing Hetian jade would bring good luck and happiness.
Therefore, it has become a vessel of emotional sustenance for the Chinese, regarded as a mascot for avoiding evil, seeking good fortune and blessing, and people express their yearning and pursuit of a better life by wearing Hetian jade.
Of course, in modern society, the saying "jade can reach the sky" is more regarded as a cultural inheritance and an expression of faith.
Although people are no longer superstitious about the mysterious power of jade as the ancients did, jade is still loved and sought after as a cultural symbol and aesthetic object.
02
Wealth status
In the Shang Dynasty, jade was used exclusively by royal nobles and was a symbol of royal power, and many of them were ritual vessels. Here, etiquette is not politeness but hierarchy.
In ancient times, jade was a symbol of royal power, and in ancient characters, jade and king were the same character (the upper two horizontal lines of the jade character were closer, and the three horizontal characters of the king character were evenly distributed).
Even in feudal society, Hetian jade is still the exclusive domain of emperors and generals, a symbol of power and status, and a clear confession on the desk of literati and artists.
Although they mostly use jade to show their noble sentiments and detached feelings, this invisible manifestation further sets off their rights, wealth and social status beyond the reach of ordinary people.
After all, the ancient Hetian jade, it is the exclusive property of high-ranking officials and nobles, only princes and generals, high-ranking officials and nobles can wear a good jade.
Although Hetian jade has now entered thousands of households, it is no longer exclusive to a few people, and has become a medium for people to convey emotions and express blessings, as well as jewelry and collectibles for daily wear.
But in the hearts of the Chinese people, it is still a label that symbolizes wealth and social status.
03
National character
Hetian jade, as one of the four famous jade in China, has been loved by people since ancient times, and its warm texture, soft luster and profound cultural heritage do have many similarities with the character of the Chinese.
The Chinese pay attention to the "golden mean", pursue harmony and balance, and do not show off or show off, just like the subtle and deep beauty of Hetian Yu.
The beauty of Hetian jade often needs to be carefully tasted to discover, its color, texture, and luster all contain rich connotations, but they are not easily revealed.
This subtle and restrained beauty is in line with the character traits of Chinese who pay attention to restraint and do not easily express emotions.
Therefore, Hetian jade has the most Chinese personality and is most in line with the national character of the Chinese.
For the Chinese nation, Hetian jade is not only a kind of jade, but also the embodiment of China's thousands of years of culture and wealth, and it also represents the excellent character and national temperament of the Chinese.
Hetian jade, for Chinese, it means too many things, Chinese can hide rituals in jade, culture in jade, wealth in jade, fun in jade, and all emotions in jade......
So, what do you think of the Chinese's obsession and love for Hetian jade? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.