Few stones have been loved for as long, or by as many cultures, as jade. In China it was treasured above gold. The Maya and Aztecs buried their kings with it. In New Zealand, the Māori carve it into sacred treasures passed down for generations. Here are the legends and true stories behind this remarkable green stone. Each one has its own full tale, so follow the links to read the whole story.
🟢 "Gold Has a Price, Jade Is Priceless"
This old Chinese saying sums up thousands of years of devotion. Jade has been carved in China for more than 7,000 years. The philosopher Confucius compared its qualities to human virtues: its smoothness to kindness, its toughness to wisdom, and its clear ring when struck to honesty.
👉 Read the full tale: What Confucius Saw in Jade
📜 The Legend of He's Jade
One of China's most famous stories tells of a man named Bian He, who found a rough stone he knew held precious jade inside. Two kings refused to believe him, and he was cruelly punished. Finally a third king had the stone cut open, and inside was the most beautiful jade anyone had ever seen: the Heshi Bi, a symbol of hidden worth and of faith proven right.
👉 Read the full legend: Tears of Blood
👑 Suits Made of Jade
Ancient Chinese nobles believed jade could protect the body after death. In 1968, soldiers digging in a hillside broke into the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng, who died more than 2,000 years ago, and found him dressed in a full suit made of about 2,500 small jade pieces, sewn together with gold wire.
👉 Read the full story: The Prince in the Jade Suit
💿 The Bracelet That Protects You
A popular folk belief says that a jade bangle protects the person who wears it, and that if it breaks, it has taken a misfortune in their place. That is one reason jade bangles are so often given to children and brides, and handed down from grandmother to granddaughter.
👉 Read the full tale: The Bangle That Took the Fall
🌿 Jade in the Americas
Long before Europeans arrived, the Olmec, Maya and Aztec peoples valued green jade more than gold. It stood for life, water and growing corn. The great Maya king Pakal of Palenque was buried with a mask made of jade mosaic over his face, hidden at the bottom of a secret staircase.
The word "jade" itself comes from this side of the world. Spanish explorers saw it used as a remedy for pain in the side and called it piedra de ijada, "stone of the flank." Over time, that became simply "jade."
👉 Read the full story: The King With the Jade Face
🇳🇿 Pounamu: The Treasure of the Māori
In New Zealand, jade is called pounamu or greenstone. Māori carvers shape it into treasured pendants such as the hei-tiki and the twist, a symbol of lasting friendship. Tradition says pounamu is best given as a gift rather than bought for yourself, and that it gains spirit and meaning as it passes through a family.
👉 Read the full legend: The Woman Who Became Greenstone
💡 One Name, Two Stones
In 1863, a French scientist discovered that "jade" is really two different minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Both are called jade today. Nephrite was the jade of ancient China, while jadeite, including the famous bright "imperial green," became the great favorite in China from the 1700s onward.
✨ What Jade Means Today
Protection and good luck
Harmony & balance
Long life & health
Purity & virtue
🛍️ Discover Our Jade & Carvings
Explore our collection of antique carvings and objets d'art, with many new jade pieces coming soon. New to jade? Read our Collector's Guide to Jade Carvings.
