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The most commonly known color of jade is green, but
jade also occurs naturally in yellow, white, and brown hues. It is
opaque to semi-translucent, with a fine, rich luster.
Many fine jade deposits exist throughout Elanthia,
but the finest are found in the frozen north, particularly the
region of Icemule Trace, the territory of the Mhoragian halflings,
and the wastelands favored by the Wsalamir giantmen. There are also
several noteworthy deposits upon the Erithian continent, where white
jade is by far the most common of the varieties.
Jade serves as an excellent conduit for invoking
the blessings of various spirits, particularly when worn as an
amulet. However, if jade is overexposed to elemental magics, it may
become discolored, as its natural affinity for spiritual magic
conflicts with the elemental magic and the two combine to produce a
sorcerous taint. (In moderation, jade assists in sorcerous magics as
well, but an excess of elemental magic can destroy the stone.)
Noting this odd property, the Erithi have developed a sophisticated
technique for dying jade through careful exposure to elemental
magic. Cracking open a piece of dyed Erithian jade reveals that the
hue extends only the thickness of a fingernail into the stone,
leaving the natural white jade beneath. Some jewelers are
experimenting with cameos and bas-relief carvings that take
advantage of the contrast between the dark, dyed portions and the
pale hue within.
Elven tradition holds that amulets, medallions,
and other jade ornaments are said to encourage calm and deep thought
in their wearer even if they have not been enchanted. Talismans made
of jade spheres enclosed in lattice-worked wood lockets are common
gifts from parents to children in Ta'Ardenai.
When a courtship shifts from playful flirtation to
a serious romance, a Paradis man will often signal the shift in his
intentions by presenting the object of his affection with a talisman
of snow white jade. The talisman is carved with an image that is
either supposed to represent the woman or some aspect of the
relationship between the pair. Iceblossoms, wolves, and pine trees
are particularly popular images for these talismans.
The Wsalamir also place significance upon jade.
When a Wsalamir woman weds, her husband will tie a leather thong
about her left wrist to make a crude bracelet. If she bears a child,
then, upon the child's naming day, she will untie the leather thong
and add a green jade bead to it to represent the baby. The bead is
engraved with the Saramar rune that is the first in the child's
name. When the child reaches maturity, the mother will exchange the
green jade bead for one of brown jade. If the child dies, she will
wear a white jade bead instead of brown or green to represent the
lost child's spirit.
In human lands, green jade is often associated
with legends of the Arkati Ivas. Priests of Koar often tell stories
of the horrors of Ivas's bedchamber in order to warn young men and
women against the dangers of physical intimacy before marriage, or,
after marriage, to warn them against infidelity. According to these
stories, Ivas routinely walks among mortals to tempt them into
licentious behavior, and she transforms the most favored of her
conquests into statues of solid green jade. Completely aware, but
completely unable to act, these undying statues witness every
cruelty inflicted by the flesh-eating Arkati upon her less-favored
conquests. As a result, many clerics of Ivas delight in jade, but it
has sporadic popularity among other humans due to these legends.
The term jade is a generic term that actually covers three minerals.
They are jadeite, nephrite, and chloromenlanite.
Jadeite jade is most treasured for its vivid
greens, but it also comes in lavender, pink, yellow, and white. Nephrite is found in less intense dark spinach greens, white,
browns, and black. Lavender jade is the most highly valued and also the most
rare form of the stone. Jade is chiefly valued by it's color and freedom from cracks. It
should have a 'greasy' appearance when it is polished.
Jade is said to help one relax. It is considered a very balanced
stone -- it helps one in both the vision of tasks to do, as well as,
doing the actual tasks.
Jade is known as "The Stone of the Loins". In ancient days, it was
believed to have great medicinal powers. It was believed that if the
stone was laid on the body in the area of the lower back or sides it
would cure kidney disorders.Jade has been thought of as the
concentrated essence of love.
Since at least 2950 BC, jade has been
treasured in China as the royal gemstone, yu. The character
for jade resembles a capital I with a line across the middle: the
top represents the heavens, the bottom the earth, and the center
section, mankind. The word yu is used in Chinese to call
something precious, as in English we use gold.
Jade was used in ancient times for weapons,
utensils and ornaments. It is one of the toughest minerals
known and was probably the most revered stone in Ancient China,
representing the five cardinal virtues of charity, modesty ,courage,
justice and wisdom. Almost all Chinese wore apiece of jade in
one form or another to protect the wearer from illness and
accidental injury.
Jade was thought to
preserve the body after death and can be found in emperors' tombs
from thousands of years ago. One tomb contained an entire suit made
out of jade, to assure the physical immortality of its owner. For
thousands of years, jade was a symbol of love and virtue as well as
a status symbol.
In Central America, the Olmecs, the Mayans,
the Toltecs all also treasured jade and used it for carvings and
masks. The Aztecs instituted a tax in jade, which unfortunately led
to the recycling of earlier artworks.
Because of its smooth even texture, jade
has long been a preferred material for carving. The most common
shape is the flat donut-shaped disc called a pi, which is commonly
worn as a necklace.
Jade is the anniversary gemstone for the 12th, 30th and 35th year
of marriage. |
