Since ancient times, jade in Chinese culture has been more than just a beautiful stone; it has been endowed with a soul, embodying people's infinite yearning for beauty, health, and peace. Among the many meanings of jade, "warding off evil" is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most profound. The concept of jade warding off evil is rooted in the Chinese nation's reverence for nature and its exploration of the mysteries of life. Its history can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, and over the long course of time, it has evolved into a unique system of cultural symbols.
The Light of Antiquity: Witch Jade and Communication with Spirits
To explore the origin of jade's evil-warding properties, we must return to the distant Neolithic Age. At that time, human understanding of the natural world was still in its infancy, and unknown forces such as thunder, disease, and wild beasts often brought fear. Shamans, as intermediaries communicating with heaven and earth to eliminate disasters and resolve difficulties, held a lofty status in tribes. Archaeological discoveries, such as the large number of jade artifacts unearthed from Hongshan Culture and Liangzhu Culture sites, including jade dragons, cong, and bi, often have mysterious and solemn shapes, believed to be "witch jade" used by shamans in sacrificial activities.
Taking the jade cong of Liangzhu Culture as an example, its outer square and inner round shape symbolizes "heaven is round and earth is square," and the beast face patterns carved on its surface combine human and beast heads, making it majestic and mysterious. These jade congs were not simple ornaments but were regarded as ritual objects for communicating with spirits, suppressing evil, and protecting the people. When a tribe encountered drought or epidemic, shamans would hold jade congs and perform grand sacrificial ceremonies, praying for blessings from spirits and expelling evil. This belief, which closely linked jade artifacts with spiritual power and evil-warding functions, was the earliest germ of jade's evil-warding culture.
From Qin and Han Dynasties Onward: The Evolution of Auspiciousness and Amulets
During the Qin and Han dynasties, with national unification and cultural integration, the concept of jade warding off evil was further enriched and secularized. Jade artifacts were no longer exclusive to shamans but began to enter the lives of the aristocracy and even ordinary people. At this time, the shapes of evil-warding jade artifacts also became more diverse. In addition to traditional jade bi and cong, a large number of auspicious beast shapes appeared, such as pixiu, tianlu, and jiaoduan.
Among them, the most representative is the mythical beast "pixiu." According to the "Book of Han: Western Regions," Emperor Wu of Han obtained a "pixiu" mythical beast from the Western Regions, which resembled a lion with two horns. Since then, pixiu has become an important auspicious beast image, carved on jade artifacts, stone carvings, and even architecture, used for guarding houses, warding off evil, and attracting wealth. The famous stone carving "Horse Trampling Xiongnu" in front of Huo Qubing's tomb also features the image of a pixiu stone beast. People believed that wearing or placing jade pixiu could resist the invasion of demons and bring good fortune and peace. The custom of "han jade" prevalent in the Han Dynasty, which involved placing jade cicadas, jade pigs, and other jade artifacts in the mouth of the deceased, also reflected the belief in jade's ability to ward off evil and preserve the body from decay.
From Wei-Jin to Ming-Qing Dynasties: Cultural Integration and Folk Beliefs
During the Wei-Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism was introduced to China and integrated with indigenous culture, injecting new connotations into jade's evil-warding properties. Images of Buddhist guardian deities and mascots began to appear in jade carvings, such as jade Guanyin, jade Buddha, and jade Arhats, which were regarded as sacred objects that could ensure peace and eliminate disasters. At the same time, elements of Taoist culture, such as talismans and Bagua, were also combined with jade artifacts, forming unique evil-warding jade ornaments.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, jade culture reached its peak, and evil-warding jade artifacts became even more deeply ingrained in people's hearts. In addition to traditional auspicious beasts and divine figures, some auspicious plants and objects were also often carved on jade artifacts, such as gourds (homophonic with "blessings and prosperity"), bats (homophonic with "blessings"), and ruyi (meaning "everything as desired"). These all carried people's hopes for a better life and their resistance to evil. At this time, daily ornaments such as jade pendants, jade bracelets, and jade hairpins were also often endowed with evil-warding meanings, becoming personal amulets.
Modern Inheritance: The Continuation of Aesthetics and Spirit
To this day, the concept of jade warding off evil continues to thrive. Although modern society is scientifically advanced, people's understanding of "evil" is different from that of ancient people, but the meaning of jade as a spiritual sustenance and cultural symbol has never changed. People wear jade more out of identification with traditional culture, the pursuit of auspicious meanings, and the desire for inner peace.
Contemporary jade carving artists, while inheriting traditional evil-warding themes, also incorporate modern aesthetics and innovative concepts. With exquisite craftsmanship, they give new life to ancient auspicious beasts and divine figures, making them retain traditional cultural charm while conforming to modern people's aesthetic tastes. For example, some jade carving works express an inherent protective power through abstract lines and concise shapes, rather than merely concrete evil-expelling images. Jade warding off evil has evolved from mere superstition into a positive belief in life and beauty, a cultural guardianship and spiritual sustenance that spans millennia.
Jade, this warm and introverted stone, with its unique charm, carries the Chinese nation's eternal pursuit of peace and auspiciousness. It is not only a witness to history but also a inheritor of culture, silently telling the story of that millennium-old guardianship and belief on the wrists and necks of every wearer.