The word "jade" communicates a sense of mystery. In Chinese, "jade" ( yu) refers to a fine, beautiful stone with a warm color and rich luster, that is skillfully and delicately carved. In Chinese culture, jade symbolizes nobility, perfection, constancy, and immortality. For millennia, jade has been an intimate part of the lives of Chinese of all ranks and classes, and it is viewed as the most valuable gem of all precious stones.

Jade is found in mountains and riverbeds. Chinese consider jade as "the essence of heaven and earth." When polished and carved into various articles, jade is attributed with certain cultural characteristics. In ancient Chinese cosmology, the firmament was considered to be round, and the earth square. Thus a round jade ceremonial ornament with a hole in the center, called a pi, was carved to honor the gods of heave, and a long hollow jade ornament with rectangular sides, called a ts'ung, was made to honor the spirits of earth. According to ancient Chinese legend, the phoenix and the dragon are animal deities that were the life-source of family clans. For this reason, jade was often used as a material for carving phoenixes and dragons as ornaments. These ornaments symbolized the noble bearing of a gentleman, and are the origin of the Chinese saying: "The gentleman's morals are like jade."

"The living wear jade as a symbol of their moral integrity, and jade accompanies the deceased to comfort their souls." Over four thousand years ago in China, great quantities of jade utensils were often laid over or around a casket, particularly the pi representing the round heaven, and the ts'ung signifying the rectangular earth. They were a symbolic link of communication between heaven and earth, of exchange between man and the spiritual world. Later, jade articles were carved specifically for burial with the dead, based on the idea that the jade's qualities of nobility, perfection, constancy, and immortality would prevent the physical body from decay. Examples of jade objects for burial use are a thin, light jade cicada which was placed in the mouth of the dead, and a thick, round jade piglet, which was enclosed in a hand of the deceased. A cicada goes under the ground and is "reborn" after shedding its skin; and a pig breeds quickly, thus increasing wealth. Thus natural objects are used to express human desires for reincarnation or increased wealth for one's family.

Jade ornaments have remained popular up until the present day. Today in the Republic of China, the purchase, wearing, and giving of jade items as fits is still very common. Jade is viewed as an ideal gift for couples making a mutual commitment, and for one's children when they get married. Even now, the Chinese retain the idea that in addition to being beautiful, jade can protect from misfortune and bring good luck.