In China where feng shui originated, Jade is one of the most well-known stones. This beautiful and highly valued stone symbolizes strength, good fortune, and good health.
DEFINITION
Jade, which comes in a variety of green hues, is one of the most popular materials for carvings used in feng shui remedies. It’s also popular as a base for a variety of jewellery pieces. The minerals nephrite and jadeite are both referred to as “jade.”
Different types of Jade
Jade is a semi-precious stone that is divided into two types: nephrite and jadeite. The more common and less valuable form of jade is nephrite. Nephrite comes in a range of colours from light to dark green, with white and orange being the most uncommon. Jadeite, on the other hand, is prized for its translucent quality and comes in a variety of green shades, including a rare lavender. “Moss entangled in melting snow” has been used to describe some of the rarest jadeite specimens.
The two stones’ crystalline structure also distinguishes them. Jadeite is made up of grainy crystals that are densely packed, whereas nephrite is made up of fibrous crystals that interlock in a matted texture. The harder, denser structure of jadeite gleams and can be delicately carved into intricate patterns. The stronger of the two, nephrite, is commonly used for simpler carving and applications.
Benefits of Jade
Jade has been revered for centuries in East Asia in shades of deep green, translucent lavender, creamy white, and orangey-red—each colour having its own meaning and symbolism. They’re one of the most valuable and well-known gemstones.
The luminous quality and lustre of jade make it a sought-after stone. The best quality jade is described as having a “greasy” smooth quality in many historic texts. When a piece of jade is tapped, it makes a sound and a ring that indicates its quality. A higher-pitched ring denotes a higher quality or grade. Colours like “spinach” green mixed with cloud-like whites are reminiscent of nature and traditional Chinese paintings in rarer examples of jade. When you first pick up a piece of high-quality jade, it feels cool to the touch, almost ice-cold.
The meaning and colours of Jade
Jade’s colours link to Taoist cosmological systems. Jade that is lighter and more translucent is thought to have softer energies and is referred to as yin. Jade with a deeper green and more opaque appearance is said to have stronger, larger energy, and thus more yang. The deeper dragon-green veins, for example, are yang and represent the ability to overcome adversity and live a better life.
The colours themselves are linked to both feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine’s five-element system. Green jade is connected to the wood element and is associated with the liver, health, healing, and longevity. The heart, love, joy, and fire element are all associated with red jade (also known as hong red). White jade is connected with the lungs, calming, and clarity of purpose, as well as the metal element. Finding a piece of jade with multiple colours increases the value of the stone. The auspicious Fu Lu Shou, for example, is a bracelet with all three colours (red, green, and white), named after the three Gods of Happiness, Wealth, and Longevity.
Ability to protect
Jade is perceived as a living stone in China. It comes from the ground, but its luminous quality is similar to that of sunlight and stars: it is a link between the worlds of heaven and earth.
Depending on the colour, many pieces and examples of jade are characterized as yin or yang. Qi, the life force that flows through and around all living things, is imbued in jade, as it is in all-natural objects.
Jade for excellent Feng Shui
Jade is a stone that is used to improve feng shui in your home. There are numerous applications, including statues, carvings, and tumbled pieces. Jade can be used as a decorative object in your home to help support and strengthen your qi (life force energy).
Feng shui isn’t just for your home; it can also be used on your body. Wearing jade jewellery is thought to aid in the clearing of the body’s meridians. Wearing a jade bangle on your left wrist, for example, is preferable because it is closer to your heart. Jade jewellery is also thought to protect the wearer from harm and absorb any negative energies.
If you have a piece of jade, you should wear it rather than storing it in a drawer. It is a qi-filled living stone that, if not worn, will become lifeless and brittle.