In the long river of Chinese civilization, jade is not merely a precious mineral but a sacred object carrying national beliefs, cultural memories, and spiritual sustenance. Among these, the auspicious meaning of "warding off evil" attributed to jade artifacts has deeply permeated people's hearts, becoming a unique cultural symbol of the Chinese nation. It is not just superstition but a wise expression of ancient people facing the unknown and seeking peace.
Tracing back to the Neolithic Age, jade artifacts were already closely linked to primitive religions and shamanistic activities. The mysterious and solemn shapes of jade bi discs and cong tubes from the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures all hinted at their extraordinary functions. The jade cong from the Liangzhu culture, with its inner circle and outer square, symbolized "heaven is round and earth is square," and the beast masks carved on it were believed to be divine figures communicating with heaven and earth, suppressing evil spirits. These early jade artifacts were the awe and prayers of the ancestors towards natural forces, their initial attempts to regard jade as a medium between gods and mortals.
During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, bronze and jade artifacts were equally important, and the evil-warding function of jade was further strengthened. Jade dragons, phoenixes, and other animal-shaped jade artifacts unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao in the Shang Dynasty were not only exquisitely crafted but also considered powerful totems. The Rites of Zhou had strict regulations on the use of jade artifacts; nobles of different ranks wore different forms of jade, many of which were used for "grave guarding" and "warding off evil." For example, jade cicadas (placed in the mouth of the deceased) and jade masks used to cover the face of the deceased, often found in Zhou dynasty noble tombs, embodied the hope of the living that the deceased would rest in peace and be free from evil spirits.
The Han Dynasty was the golden age of jade development and the peak of evil-warding jade artifacts. The famous "jade burial suit sewn with gold thread" was the ultimate expression of the Han imperial family's pursuit of immortality and soul protection. The entire suit, made of thousands of jade pieces sewn together, covered the entire body and was believed to make the corpse incorruptible and the soul peaceful. In addition, various evil-warding jade pendants were popular in the Han Dynasty, such as jade bixie (a mythical beast), jade gangmao, and jade wengzhong. The jade bixie, with its fierce image, was often considered a guardian spirit that could drive away evil and avoid misfortune; jade gangmao and jade wengzhong were often carved with characters like "gangmao" and "yanmao" or made into human figures, regarded as talismans to suppress misfortune and protect the wearer's safety. These jade artifacts were not only symbols of status but also profound reflections and responses of the ancients to life, death, and the unknown world.
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism was introduced to China, and jade artifacts combined with Buddhist culture, leading to many Buddhist-themed jade artifacts with evil-warding meanings, such as jade Buddha statues and jade Guanyin, which were not only carriers of faith but also believed to bring peace and auspiciousness. From the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, to Qing dynasties, the secularization of jade artifacts became increasingly evident, but their traditional evil-warding meaning did not diminish. Daily worn jade artifacts like jade ruyi, jade pendants, and jade bracelets were often carved with auspicious patterns such as bats (fortune), deer (prosperity), and peaches (longevity), symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and longevity, and also implicitly conveying the desire to drive away evil and attract blessings.
Even today, despite scientific advancements, the evil-warding meaning of jade is still widely circulated among the people. Many still believe that wearing jade can ensure safety and ward off disasters. This is not merely superstition but an emotional continuation and spiritual sustenance of traditional culture. When we see an ancient jade, it carries not only exquisite craftsmanship but also the Chinese nation's yearning for a better life, reverence for the unknown world, and active control over its own destiny for thousands of years. It reminds us that in the complex modern society, we can still draw strength from ancient wisdom and seek inner peace and tranquility. The evil-warding culture of jade is a part of the collective memory of the Chinese nation, an invisible link connecting the past and the present, and inheriting the national spirit. With its warm and subtle luster, it silently guards generations of Chinese descendants, telling one moving story after another about guardianship and belief.