In the vast river of Chinese history, jade is not merely a material carrier but also a spiritual totem. It embodies the ancestors' yearning for a better life, their reverence for mysterious powers, and their desire for life's blessings. Among these numerous meanings, “warding off evil” is undoubtedly one of the oldest, most profound, and most storied.
I. Genesis in Antiquity: The First Dialogue Between Jade and Deities
The Chinese nation's reverence for jade can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. At that time, productivity was low, natural disasters were frequent, and diseases and plagues were rampant, filling people with fear of the unknown. In this context, hard, warm, and lustrous stones—jade—were endowed with supernatural powers. Archaeological discoveries, such as the large numbers of jade bi discs, cong tubes, and huang pendants unearthed from Hongshan and Liangzhu culture sites, often had forms closely linked to heaven, deities, and ancestor worship. For instance, the Liangzhu jade cong, with its square exterior and round interior, is believed to represent the cosmic view of “heaven is round, earth is square,” and the beast masks carved on them are interpreted as divine images that communicate with heaven and earth and ward off evil spirits. These early jade artifacts were not simple ornaments but sacred objects used by tribal chiefs or shamans in sacrificial rituals to communicate with deities, pray for blessings, and suppress evil. They were humanity's earliest “evil-warding jade artifacts,” carrying the ancestors' longing for survival and their construction of order.
II. From Qin and Han Dynasties Onward: Guardian Totems of Dragons, Phoenixes, Tigers, and Leopards
Entering slave and feudal societies, the evil-warding function of jade became more concrete and combined with the power and prestige of the ruling class. During the Qin and Han dynasties, jade carving techniques reached their peak, and evil-warding themes became increasingly rich. The most representative among them was the “jade bixie,” a type of auspicious beast sculpture. In the Han Dynasty, bixie were typically carved into winged fierce beast images, also known as “Tianlu” or “Pixiu,” believed to be divine beasts capable of expelling evil and attracting wealth. For example, the stone bixie standing in front of Huo Qubing's tomb, though a stone sculpture, its majestic posture precisely reflects the Han people's understanding and hope for bixie auspicious beasts. At the same time, traditional auspicious beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and tigers also appeared extensively on jade artifacts. The dragon, as a totem of the Chinese nation, symbolizes supreme power and auspiciousness, and its image itself possesses powerful functions of protecting homes and warding off evil; the phoenix, on the other hand, represents auspiciousness and rebirth. These auspicious beast jade carvings were not only burial objects, protecting the peace of the deceased, but were also often worn by officials and nobles, hoping to turn bad luck into good and be immune to all evil.
III. From Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties: Secularization and Diverse Development
With the prosperity of Buddhism and Taoism, the evil-warding meaning of jade also incorporated new elements. Jade carvings of Buddhist themes such as Buddhas, Guanyin, and Arhats began to appear, regarded as sacred objects capable of purifying the mind and eliminating karma. Taoist elements such as the Eight Immortals and talismans gradually integrated into jade designs, becoming choices for Taoist believers to ward off evil and protect themselves. At the same time, auspicious plant and animal motifs, such as bats (fu, meaning good fortune), peaches (shou, meaning longevity), gourds (fulu, meaning good fortune and prosperity), and ruyi (meaning everything goes as one wishes), also appeared extensively on jade artifacts, conveying people's simple wishes for health, peace, and happiness through their homophones or symbolic meanings. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, jade pendants, jade charms, jade bracelets, and other daily worn jade articles became popular, with carved images of Zhong Kui and Guan Yu directly expressing people's desire to expel ghosts and suppress evil. For example, the jade carving of Zhong Kui catching ghosts vividly depicts this hero from folk legends who subdues demons, becoming a common evil-warding object in people's homes.
IV. Modern Inheritance: Continuation of Belief and Enhancement of Aesthetics
Even today, despite scientific advancement, the evil-warding meaning of jade remains deeply ingrained in people's hearts. People wear jade Buddhas and jade Guanyin not only out of faith but also as an affirmation of traditional culture and a pursuit of inner peace. Many believe that jade can absorb negative energy, bring positive energy, and even protect its owner from disaster at critical moments. This is not superstition but a cultural symbol and psychological suggestion accumulated by jade throughout its long history. Modern jade carving art, while inheriting traditional evil-warding themes, also incorporates more fashionable elements and personalized designs. Whether it's ancient and elegant auspicious beast carvings or simple and stylish peace buckles and road-to-success beads, they all carry the wearer's hopes for a better life and wishes for personal safety. Jade, from its initial role as a sacred object for sacrifice, to a symbol of imperial power, and then to an amulet for ordinary people, has consistently guarded the spiritual homeland of the Chinese nation with its unique warmth and resilience, becoming a cultural link connecting ancient and modern times and communicating between people.
The evil-warding meaning of jade is not mere superstition; it reflects the Chinese nation's profound understanding and unique philosophy of life, nature, and the universe. It is the sedimentation of history, the inheritance of culture, and our eternal prayer for a beautiful future.