Jade has a very long history. People have used it for thousands of years. The name “jade” covers two minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite was treasured in ancient China for over seven thousand years. Jadeite was found later in China, in the late 18th or early 19th century.

In China, jade was called the “stone of heaven”. It was the most precious stone for a long time. High-ranking people wore jade. It showed their wisdom and connection to the divine. Jade was used for tools in the Stone Age because it was very tough. Ancient Chinese workers used sand to shape it, as metal tools weren’t strong enough.

But jade was important in the West too. In Europe, miners found jade in the Alps long ago. They made axes from it. The Maori people in New Zealand also valued jade highly. In Central and South America, the Maya and Aztecs used jadeite. The Spanish gave jade its name, meaning “stone of the pain in the side”. They saw natives using it for kidney issues.

Today, jadeite comes mostly from Myanmar (Burma). Nephrite is found in many places like Canada, the US, Russia, and China. Jade connects us to ancient people across the world. It’s a stone with a global history.

Learn more at:
https://orionjade.com/