Yunnan Jadeite

Yunnan Jadeite

　　【Luster】

　　Jadeite exhibits a glassy luster and is semi-transparent to transparent. Due to the presence of different coloring ions, it appears in various colors: typically white, red, green, purple, yellow, and pink. Pure, impurity-free jadeite is white. When it contains chromium, it displays soft, vivid light to deep green hues, known as "fei cui" (jadeite). This variety is the most precious and highly cherished. If it contains manganese, it shows light to deep purple tones, often referred to as "chun di" or "oufen di." When iron is present, it appears dark red, brownish-red, or reddish-brown, known as "fei." If both chromium and copper are present, it takes on light blue or bluish-green hues, called "olive water." High-grade jadeite values not only color but also texture. Generally, those with fresh, attractive colors, relatively transparent, and strong glassy luster are considered top quality. In contrast, varieties with dry texture and poor transparency are of lower grade.

　　【Origin】

　　Jadeite was originally the name of a bird. Xu Shen of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in his work *Shuowen Jiezi*, explained jadeite as follows: “Fei is a red-feathered bird; cui is a green-feathered bird.” A commentary in *The Book of the Later Han · Biography of Ban Gu* states: “Jadeite is shaped like a swallow; the red, male one is called fei, and the green, female one is called cui.” From the meanings of these characters, the aforementioned jadeite refers to birds of red and green colors. In Ban Gu’s *Rhapsody on the Western Capital* from the Han Dynasty, it says: “Jadeite and fire jades, radiant with embedded brilliance, suspended li and hanging thorns, with luminous night stones within.” In Zhang Heng’s *Rhapsody on the Western Metropolis*, it states: “Jadeite and fire jades, strung with fine jade. Flowing with the night-shining li, adorned with kingfisher pearls as candles.” Judging from the context, the jadeite mentioned here undoubtedly refers to jade.

　　【Popularity】

　　In its early days, jadeite was not considered precious, nor was it highly valued by people. Ji Xiaolan (1724–1805) wrote in *Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations*: “The value of things fluctuates with the fashion of the times, which is never fixed. I remember in my childhood, ginseng, coral, and lapis lazuli were all inexpensive. Nowadays… Yunnan jadeite was not regarded as real jade at the time, being no more than a pale yellow from Lantian, forcibly called jade. Now, it is treasured as a rare curiosity, its price far exceeding that of genuine jade.” From this, we know that in the early 18th century, jadeite was not considered jade, and its price was low. By the end of the 18th century, however, it had become an expensive rarity. According to *Shi Ya* (Elegance of Stones), around the beginning of the 20th century, a 45-kilogram stone of jadeite rough was worth eleven pounds. Among the jadeite stones, there were many high-quality pieces, which were also quite expensive at the time, but compared to today—where a kilogram of top-grade jadeite can fetch 700,000 to 800,000 USD—it’s like comparing a firefly to the sun.

　　The mining, transportation, processing, and sales of jadeite have traditionally been the domain of the people of Yunnan. In an ancient Chinese-style temple in the former Burmese capital of Amarapura, there is an inscription bearing the names of 5,000 Chinese jadeite merchants. During the mid-Ming Dynasty, high-ranking officials and eunuchs were stationed in Baoshan Tengchong specifically to purchase jewelry. At the time, the route from Yongchang Tengyue to Myitkyina in Burma was already known as the “Jade Road” or “Treasure Well Road.” The trade route from Tengchong to Burma was most prosperous, with over 20,000 mules and horses passing through daily. Almost 90% of the world’s jade trade was conducted in Tengchong’s gem markets. By 1950, there were over 300,000 overseas Chinese from Tengchong County residing in Burma. To this day, tens of thousands of Yunnanese are still engaged in the jadeite industry in Burma.