In the vast river of Chinese jade culture, there is a female figure whose name is closely linked with jadeite, and her story is still widely told today. She is Empress Dowager Cixi, the de facto ruler of the late Qing Dynasty. As an ancient jade collector, whenever I gaze upon the jadeite treasures from the Qing imperial collection that have survived to this day, I can always feel the luxury and power that transcend time, as well as a microcosm of an era hidden behind the brilliant green luster.
Cixi's obsession with jadeite was not accidental. Since ancient times, jade has held a supreme position in Chinese culture, symbolizing the virtues of a gentleman, power, and wealth. Jadeite, the "king of hard jade" which truly entered the mainstream Chinese consciousness only in the Qing Dynasty, quickly conquered the imperial family and nobility with its warm texture, vibrant colors, and rare production. Especially in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, with the large influx of Burmese jadeite and the increasingly exquisite carving techniques, the status of jadeite reached an unprecedented height. Cixi, this powerful woman, naturally would not miss out on this precious gem that gathered the essence of heaven and earth and contained infinite charm.
Historical records and archaeological discoveries depict Cixi's deep affection for jadeite. According to Qing imperial archives, Empress Dowager Cixi owned countless rare treasures throughout her life, among which jadeite occupied an extremely important position. Her daily attire, palace furnishings, and even burial objects all sparkled with the brilliance of jadeite. The most famous are undoubtedly the pair of "twisted bangles," which are excellent in clarity, color, and craftsmanship, hailed as the "pinnacle of jadeite." Legend has it that these bangles were Cixi's favorites, almost never leaving her side. In addition, she owned jadeite hairpins, earrings, thumb rings, snuff bottles, and even exquisitely crafted jadeite watermelons and jadeite cabbages. These jadeite artifacts were not only symbols of luxury but also expressions of her personal aesthetic taste and supreme power. Especially the stolen "Night-Luminous Pearl," rumored to be a huge jadeite bead that glowed faintly green in the dark, was priceless and proved Cixi's fervent pursuit of jadeite.
Cixi's love for jadeite was not merely on a material level but was integrated into her spiritual world. She firmly believed that jadeite could bring good luck, prolong life, and even ward off evil spirits. It is said that she wore jadeite ornaments every day and even requested that her most beloved jadeite be buried with her upon her death. This belief in jade is a continuation of the traditional Chinese concept that "jade can communicate with spirits." In that turbulent era, the resilience and permanence of jadeite might have also given her some spiritual comfort and strength.
Cixi's story with jadeite also reflects the late Qing society's attitude towards luxury goods and foreign cultures. In an era when the country's doors were gradually opening, jadeite from foreign lands, with its unique charm, quickly integrated into traditional Chinese culture and was endowed with new connotations. It was no longer merely an ornament but a symbol of power, status, and aesthetics. Cixi's jadeite collection undoubtedly promoted the popularization and development of jadeite in China, and also brought jadeite culture to a peak in the Qing Dynasty.
To this day, the jadeite legend left by Cixi continues. Those jadeite treasures that once belonged to her, some scattered among the populace, some treasured in museums, silently tell stories of history and bear witness to the continuous legacy of jadeite culture. As collectors and researchers of later generations, from these colorful jadeite relics, we can not only glimpse the luxurious life of a legendary woman but also feel the deep-rooted persistence and love of the Chinese nation for jade culture. Jadeite has transcended the simple category of gemstones; it carries historical memories and embodies people's yearning for beauty and eternity, becoming an unfading green brilliance in Chinese civilization.