Since ancient times, jade has carried the profound cultural sentiments and spiritual sustenance of the Chinese nation. Among countless circulating jade stories, the legend of Lin Xiangru's 'Jade Returned to Zhao' is undoubtedly the most brilliant. It is not only a display of diplomatic wisdom but also an eternal ode to the value of jade, national dignity, and personal integrity.
The story begins in the Warring States period. At that time, the world was in turmoil, with seven states vying for supremacy. The State of Zhao possessed a rare treasure—the He Shi Bi. This jade disc had an extraordinary origin; it was said to have been discovered by Bian He of Chu in Mount Jing. He was twice mistaken for deceiving the king and had his feet amputated for presenting the jade, only to be vindicated and have the jade carved into a disc during the reign of King Wen of Chu. The He Shi Bi was not only warm and lustrous in texture and pure in color but also renowned throughout the world for its extraordinary phenomenon of 'glowing at night, illuminating the room as if it were day,' earning it the reputation of 'a treasure shared by all under heaven.'
King Zhaoxiang of Qin, hearing of the He Shi Bi, coveted it greatly. He sent a letter to King Huiwen of Zhao, offering to exchange fifteen cities for the jade disc. This was undoubtedly a great temptation, yet it also harbored hidden dangers. Zhao's national strength was inferior to Qin's; if they refused the exchange, they feared Qin's attack; if they handed over the He Shi Bi, they worried that Qin would break its promise, the cities would be lost, and the treasure would be gone. In this time of national crisis, King Huiwen of Zhao summoned his ministers for deliberation. Finally, his retainer Lin Xiangru stepped forward and readily agreed to go to Qin with the jade disc.
Lin Xiangru brought the He Shi Bi to Qin and met King Zhaoxiang in the Zhangtai Palace. The King of Qin, upon seeing the He Shi Bi, indeed adored it and couldn't bear to part with it, yet he said nothing about the fifteen cities. Lin Xiangru, seeing that the King of Qin had no intention of fulfilling his promise, conceived a plan. He falsely claimed that the He Shi Bi had a flaw and asked to take it back to show the King. Once the jade disc was back in his hands, he became furious, holding the jade disc, leaning against a pillar, and angrily rebuking the King of Qin for breaking his promise. He threatened, 'If Your Majesty forcibly takes this disc, I will smash my head and the disc together against this pillar!' The King of Qin, seeing this, feared damage to the jade disc and could only temporarily appease him, ordering Lin Xiangru to be sent back to his lodging.
That night, Lin Xiangru ordered his attendants to disguise themselves, carry the He Shi Bi, and escape back to Zhao via a small path. The next day, Lin Xiangru calmly met the King of Qin and declared that the He Shi Bi had already been sent back to Zhao. He spoke eloquently, pointing out Qin's lack of trustworthiness, and that although Zhao was weak, it had scholars willing to fight to the death. Although the King of Qin was angry, he could do nothing but allow Lin Xiangru to return to Zhao. Thus, the heroic act of 'Jade Returned to Zhao' was accomplished, and the He Shi Bi safely returned to Zhao.
The story of 'Jade Returned to Zhao' is not only a testament to Lin Xiangru's personal wisdom and courage but also a symbol of the He Shi Bi's value as a 'treasure shared by all under heaven.' This jade disc carried the dignity and credibility of the nation; its ownership concerned Zhao's destiny and the hearts of its people. In ancient times, jade was not merely an ornament but also a ritual object, a token, and a symbol of identity, status, and virtue. The legend of the He Shi Bi is the ultimate embodiment of this cultural significance.
Even today, although the whereabouts of the He Shi Bi are unknown, the idiom 'Jade Returned to Zhao' is deeply ingrained in people's hearts and has become part of the precious cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. It inspires us that integrity is the foundation of a nation and the way of being human; it also reminds us that precious cultural heritage, regardless of its material form, carries the memory and spirit of the nation, worthy of our generational guardianship and inheritance. When we gaze at a warm piece of jade, we may also feel the historical weight and cultural warmth that have traversed thousands of years, appreciating the profound emotions the ancients entrusted to jade and their eternal pursuit of noble virtues. This is precisely the enduring charm of jade culture.