Jade Gemstone Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Legends
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Jade Gemstone Facts and History
The Jade Gemstone has a dense history dating back to prehistoric times and is steeped with important cultural significance in many civilizations. Jade actually refers to two different but similar metamorphic rocks: jadeite and nephrite.
Both rocks are silicate minerals and are exceptionally tough. Jadeite is a sodium aluminum mineral that was prominently used in Mesoamerica and mined in Myanmar (Burma). Nephrite is a calcium-magnesium mineral that was significantly used in Asia and by the Maori in New Zealand.
The Jade Gemstone is most known for its opaque green hue but it also comes in a variety of different colors including lavender, white, black, grey, red, and yellow.
Archeological evidence shows that Jade was largely used in prehistoric times for weapons and as a currency for trade in many parts of Asia.
Nephrite Jade has been highly cherished in Chinese culture for thousands of years up to the present day. Dubbed as the imperial gem, this Jade stone can produce musical notes when struck.
The Chinese highly valued the white nephrite Jade they called “mutton-fat.” Jadeite was only introduced to China in the 18th century from Myanmar (Burma) mines.
Mesoamerican cultures and the Maori in New Zealand also place Jade Gemstones in high regard for their rarity as well as religious and cultural meaning.
Despite continuous use for millennia, jadeite and nephrite, referred to as Jade, were only separately classified as different minerals in 1863 by mineralogist Alexis Damour.
The name Jade was derived from the Spanish term piedra de ijada, when translated means loin stone, given by Spanish explorers when they observed Mesoamerican natives hold Jade stone to their side to cure ailments. The name nephrite is taken from the Latin translation, lapis nephriticus.
Jade was mined as early as 6000 BC. Mining Jade involves cutting into boulders to reach Jade deposits. Many ancient Jade deposits are depleted today.
Currently, Myanmar (Burma) is the world’s largest source of Jadeite and is considered the most valuable. Other notable sources of Jade Gemstones are Canada, the USA, Siberia, Guatemala, Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
Jadeite has a Mohs hardness rating of 6.5 to 7 while nephrite’s rating is 6 but is tougher. This, along with its beauty, made Jade an ideal material for many uses.
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Jade Gemstone Uses
Since prehistoric times, Jade has been used to carve tools, weapons, and jewelry. Jade jewelry and ornaments were used as precious trading items in ancient civilizations.
Jade was also the favorite material of craftsmen and artisans for centuries. It is used to create sculptures, ornaments, pendants, etc.
Nephrite Jade is used to make musical instruments like gongs, flutes, xylophones, and even wind chimes.
Jade is usually the preferred to make into sacred items by many cultures for use in ceremonies and rituals. In Han Dynasty China, royalty were laid to rest in Jade burial suits. Grounded Jade powder was also used in poultices to cure illness.
Jade pendants and objects are used by the Māori as spiritual heirlooms. Many ancient and modern cultures use Jade items as talismans for protection and health.
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Jade Gemstone Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism
Due to its connection to the heart chakra, the Jade embodies a range of emotional attributes such as well-being, love, purity, and overall health. In the context of feng shui, a Chinese traditional practice of rearranging pieces in your living space to create balance and harmony, Jade is often incorporated in order to promote gentleness, balance, serenity, and inner peace.
Although Jade is widely recognized for its iconic green hue, it comes in an array of colors including red, white, lavender, and yellow—each carrying distinct spiritual meanings.
The renowned green Jade, also known as imperial Jade, symbolizes abundance, prosperity, balance, and serenity, offering holistic balance across all aspects of life.
Among the rarest hues, lavender Jade, often referred to as the Stone of the Angels, holds a spiritual essence believed to cleanse the spirit, provide emotional healing, and enhance mental clarity, ultimately promoting a state of tranquility and peacefulness.
On the other hand, white Jade, characterized by its soothing color, is primarily associated with the crown chakra which promotes focus and stability. It is often used for meditation to clear the mind.
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Jade Gemstone Symbolism of Different Shapes and Forms
The symbolism of Jade varies according to its shapes and forms, each bearing a unique representation. It is commonly utilized in both jewelry and home decor.
The Jade disc, known as “bi” in Chinese culture, is a circular artifact featuring a central hole. Its circular shape represents balance, harmony, and the perpetual cycle of life. During the era of warlords in China, the Jade disc signifies rank and status. A defeated warlord would relinquish their Jade disc to the victorious as a symbol of submission.
The Jade cong, resembling a Jade disc in its cylindrical shape but enclosed within a square outer section, has historical ties to funerary rites. Unearthed alongside select individuals in Fanshan and Yaoshan in Yuhang, Zhejiang province, the Jade cong was believed to safeguard the deceased in the afterlife.
Wearing a Jade bangle is believed to invite good fortune, protection, harmony, and balance into one’s life. Similar to the Jade disc, its cylindrical form symbolizes the cyclical nature of life.
Whether worn as a necklace pendant or used as house decor, a Jade Buddha represents luck, fortune, and protection against evil spirits. It also holds a connection to Buddhist teachings, embodying inner wisdom, and is commonly used in meditation.
Jade can also take the form of intricately detailed animal carvings, such as dragons, phoenixes, bats, or butterflies. A dragon Jade carving embodies power, prosperity, and protection, while a phoenix Jade symbolizes beauty, virtue, and elegance. Jade in the form of a bat often symbolizes happiness, whereas butterfly Jade carries a romantic significance, symbolizing successful love.
Jade can also serve as an amulet or talisman, primarily worn for protection and good luck. Believed to dispel negative energies, these pieces are believed to bring prosperity, good health, and longevity.
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Jade Gemstone Symbolism in Different Cultures
Nearly two millennia ago, the highly respected scholar Xu Shen explained the five virtues epitomized by the high-valued Jade Gemstone in his seminal work, Shuowen Jiezi. He associated kindness with its luster and brilliance, honesty with its translucent texture, wisdom with its clarity and profound resonance, courage with its ability to break but not bend, and purity with its sharp edges that never inflict harm.
The use of Jade in Japan dates back to approximately 7,000 years ago during the early Jomon period. Regarded as the national stone, Jade is deeply ingrained in rituals, embodying notions of wealth and power.
In Māori culture, Jade is referred to as pounamu or the “God stone,” believed to enhance the wearer’s life and symbolize a material representation of their connection to ancestral spirits. It is revered as a treasure stone or taonga in the Māori language.
Within Mesoamerica, Jade is a rare and precious gem – a symbol of status among the pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs. Jade was meticulously inscribed with hieroglyphics and used in various rituals and ceremonies, highlighting its cultural significance and the high regard in which it was held by the societal elite.
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Jade Gemstone in Combination with other Gems
Renowned for promoting harmony and balance, Jade serves as a powerful tool in grounding and meditation practices. Its properties are heightened when harmoniously paired with specific gemstones. Gemstones like amethyst, jasper, moonstone, and black tourmaline amplify the spiritual and healing benefits of Jade.
When Jade and amethyst are used together, they attract abundance into one’s life. Jade is primarily used to attract abundance, and when coupled with amethyst, brings stagnant aspects of life into light.
The Jade and jasper combination helps you identify certain issues that are affecting your life, encouraging individuals to navigate challenges effectively.
When moonstone and Jade join forces, they promote positive thinking. While Jade signifies harmony, moonstone symbolizes optimism, empowering the wearer to maintain a positive perspective in life.
For those seeking to safeguard or enhance their wealth, the combination of black tourmaline and Jade proves highly effective. Jade’s inherent ability to attract wealth is aligned with black tourmaline’s grounding influence, ensuring a steady and grounded approach in the pursuit and preservation of wealth.
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Jade Gemstone Birthstone and Zodiac Sign
In accordance with the Old Tibetan Calendar, Jade serves as the birthstone for individuals born in March or under the Pisces zodiac sign. Because zodiac signs encompass two different months, signs are associated with two distinct birthstones. Amethyst is the birthstone of those born in February, while those born in March are symbolized by Jade.
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Jade Gemstone in Dreams
When Jade appears in a dream, it generally carries positive meanings. They often symbolize good fortune, luck, happiness, blessings, and even potential wealth in one’s waking life.
Dreams where one is wearing a Jade bracelet can suggest that they are taking measures to shield themselves from people who might attempt to impose their problems on them. Jade bracelets are protective symbols, guarding against negative energies and promoting a greater sense of balance and tranquility in life.
On the other side, when one receives Jade as a gift in their dream, it signifies that someone highly values their presence in their life. Jade is a precious gemstone, and when it appears as a gift in one’s dream, it is an indicator of the deep care and regard that the person holds for them.
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Jade Gemstone Omens and Superstitions
In China, Jade bangles are said to protect the wearer from negative energy. However, once they break, they lose their purpose.
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Jade Gemstone Mythology and Folklore
Jade holds a strong connection in Chinese culture, and there are captivating tales associated with its significance. One such legend recounts the Mongol invasion of China, where it is said that the dragons, mourning the lives lost in battle, shed tears that crystallized into Jade upon touching the earth.
Another folklore from the Han dynasty era revolves around the burial customs of the Chinese noble class. They bury their deceased with various forms of Jade, such as body plugs or suits crafted from delicate, rectangular Jade plates. This practice was rooted in the belief that the translucent gem would help the departed achieve immortality.
