What is the significance of jade in Chinese religion?
In Chinese religion, jade is very important. It played roles in mummification and had many other purposes. According to Jewelry Central, it had been "...treasured in China as the royal gemstone,'yu', for 5,000 years". Also, as stated by history.cultural-china, In the Han dynasty, "....emperors were buried in jade gowns and jade cicadas were placed on dead kings' tongues to prevent decomposition and safeguard chi or energy".
Jade was thought to have supernatural powers and preserve a body after death. Sometimes, mummies were covered with a jade suit! Jade was used to make Buddhas and other very important statues. It was used during burials and had many other purposes. Sometimes, people drank elixirs made from powdered jade!
Since jade, was thought to have supernatural powers and symbolized love and virtue, people wore bangles made from jade to protect them. It was thought to wear off bad luck, evil, and illnesses. There are many stories that state that jade had protected people. For example, a woman was thought to die one day from an illness, but then her jade bangle started glowing bright, and instantly, she started feeling better. There are many other stories like this one that claim that jade had helped people and protected them.
Jade was thought to have supernatural powers and preserve a body after death. Sometimes, mummies were covered with a jade suit! Jade was used to make Buddhas and other very important statues. It was used during burials and had many other purposes. Sometimes, people drank elixirs made from powdered jade!
Since jade, was thought to have supernatural powers and symbolized love and virtue, people wore bangles made from jade to protect them. It was thought to wear off bad luck, evil, and illnesses. There are many stories that state that jade had protected people. For example, a woman was thought to die one day from an illness, but then her jade bangle started glowing bright, and instantly, she started feeling better. There are many other stories like this one that claim that jade had helped people and protected them.
Jade was used in China mainly for religious purposes, in Ancient Egypt, gold was used for religious purposes as well, but there are many similarities and differences between the two.
Chinese jade symbolized high status and/or royalty. Similar to the Chinese, the Egyptians considered gold with high status and royalty, pharaohs and rich families used to wear gold, servants and poor families would not.The Chinese covered emperors and kings in jade suits, they thought that the jade would preserve the body. The Egyptians thought that gold symbolizes eternity, and that is why it was used in burials, they put pharaohs in gold sarcophaguses. The Chinese put jade statues in the emperors' and kings' tombs just like the Egyptians put gold statues in their pharaohs' tombs. Gold was considered the skin of the gods, it represented the sun god, Ra. Similarly, there was a Jade Emperor in China's mythology. China and Egypt were both famous for their burial processes and spiritual beliefs.
Jade symbolized love and virtue, and this is the reason why it was used in burials. It was also thought to preserve the body after death. On the other hand, according to Human Heritage by Glencoe, page 71, it states that "The Egyptians believed the pharaohs would be happy after the death if they had their personal belongings. Therefore, they placed a pharaoh's clothing, weapons, furniture, and jewelry in the pyramids". So gold, was placed in the pharaoh's' tomb not to preserve the body, but to help make the pharaohs "happy" after death, but like jade, it symbolized eternity as well.
All in all, Ancient China and Ancient Egypt had similarities and differences.
Chinese jade symbolized high status and/or royalty. Similar to the Chinese, the Egyptians considered gold with high status and royalty, pharaohs and rich families used to wear gold, servants and poor families would not.The Chinese covered emperors and kings in jade suits, they thought that the jade would preserve the body. The Egyptians thought that gold symbolizes eternity, and that is why it was used in burials, they put pharaohs in gold sarcophaguses. The Chinese put jade statues in the emperors' and kings' tombs just like the Egyptians put gold statues in their pharaohs' tombs. Gold was considered the skin of the gods, it represented the sun god, Ra. Similarly, there was a Jade Emperor in China's mythology. China and Egypt were both famous for their burial processes and spiritual beliefs.
Jade symbolized love and virtue, and this is the reason why it was used in burials. It was also thought to preserve the body after death. On the other hand, according to Human Heritage by Glencoe, page 71, it states that "The Egyptians believed the pharaohs would be happy after the death if they had their personal belongings. Therefore, they placed a pharaoh's clothing, weapons, furniture, and jewelry in the pyramids". So gold, was placed in the pharaoh's' tomb not to preserve the body, but to help make the pharaohs "happy" after death, but like jade, it symbolized eternity as well.
All in all, Ancient China and Ancient Egypt had similarities and differences.