Page 191 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

J

Jade

yu

Jade, which occurs in several shades ranging from white to dark green, has always been
the favourite gemstone in China. Not everything described as ‘jade’ is in fact jade; for
example, nephrite is also called yu. In ancient times, jade was found in the border areas
between the provinces of Henan and Shanxi; later, the best jade was held to be that found
in Khotan (in Xinjiang) and in Burma.
It was an ancient custom to place a piece of jade in the mouth of a dead person in the
belief that this prevented decomposition. It was used very widely for decorating belts;
statues of considerable size were also made from jade. On their 70th birthday men were
given a short rod of jade.

The Jade Emperor, or Great Ruler of Heaven, with his court in session

Genuine jade is always cool to the touch; for this reason the skin of a beautiful
woman is compared to it. It symbolises purity. ‘Playing with jade’ (nong yu) is a
metaphor for sexual intercourse: ‘handling jade’ (pin yu) means cunnilingus. ‘Jade-sap’
(yu-jiang) is a woman’s saliva, ‘jade-fluid’ is semen or vaginal secretions, the ‘jade gate’