Ancient jade story

More than two thousand years ago in China (during the Spring & Autumn/Warring States Era), there was a man by the name of Bian He in the Kingdom of Chu who accidentally found a jade boulder of exceptional quality. He knew that it could be carved into a masterpiece of art or a State Seal, so he presented the jade boulder to the king of Chu.


Bian He found a jade boulder of superb quality

 

 

Bian He presented the Jade to the King

The king had the jade inspected by the craftsmen of the court and was told that the jade was of inferior quality. The king was angry so he had Bian's leg amputated for cheating him with a stone of inferior quality.  When the king died and a new king took over, Bian again presented the jade to the new king as he knew that the jade was really excellent and it was a pity that no one appreciated it. Again the craftsmen of the court examined it and told the king it was very ordinary.



The craftsman examining the jade

The king was again furious for being cheated. He then ordered Bian's other leg to be chopped off for deceiving a king. Bian was very sad and frustrated not because of losing both legs, but because nobody would believe him that the jade was really good. Years passed and yet another new king of Chu took over. Without legs, Bian asked to be carried to the palace and presented again the jade to the king. This time, the craftsman of the court examined the jade and realised that it was indeed a jade of exceptional quality. The king was very happy and rewarded Bian handsomely. He immediately ordered the craftsmen to carve the jade into a national seal and called it He's Jade (in honour of Bian He who found it). It became the symbol of supreme power in the kingdom.

Craftsman working on the jade

He's Jade became so famous that it was the desire of every king in the land (there were many kingdoms during the Warring States era) to possess it for it represented supreme power and sovereignty.

Every king's desire to own He's Jade

During those turbulent years of the Warring States era, the king from the State of Qin (where Shi Huang Di, the First Emperor of China, came from) heard about the jade and sent an envoy to the State of Zhou (by this time, the jade was in the hand of the king of Zhou). He wanted to use 16 cities in his state to exchange for this Jade Seal known as He's Jade.

 

Qin's envoy offered 16 cities for He's Jade

Could you imagine what was the worth of a city that time? All the kings during the Warring State era fought bitterly against each other just to expand their own territory. The king of Qin (Shi Huang Di's grandfather) was willing to sacrifice 16 cities for a piece of jade. One could imagine the importance of He's Jade as a symbol of power and sovereignty.

16 cities for the jade

 

Wars broke out because of the jade



As the Stae of Qin was strong and powerful, the king of Zhou did not want to risk a war with Qin and he asked Ling Xiangrhu (later became the prime minister of Zhou) to bring the jade to Qin to carry out the exchange. With only a servant with him, Ling travelled to Qin alone. Knowing that the King of Qin was very crafty, Ling knew that he would not honour his promise and might forcefully acquire the jade without giving 16 cities to the state of Zhao. Even the exchange was not successful, Ling was able to think of a plan to bring the jade safely back to the State of Zhou. This was recorded in history book and there is even a Chine proverb in this episode, Returning of He's Jade to Zhou.

As kingdoms came and gone, He's jade was eventually lost and nobody knew where it was. Many kings and emperors continued to hunt for it but without success. It was said that the first Ming emperor had spend large resources to look for the jade in his entire life but still could not find it.

Since no one had actually seen the jade, it is interesting to know if He's Jade is of really good quality. What type of jade is it? Some said it could be a Hetian jade as green jade (jadeite form Burma) was virtually unheard of during those years. Then again, by today's standard, He's jade might just look ordinary.

 

Jade of impeccable quality

  

Seal made from Hetian jade