For the first time, jade (stone) was discovered onterritory of China. During the excavations it was found that the mineral was used in the rituals of Chinese healers. A huge collection of crafts and jewelry from jade was found in the tombs of Lianzhu, which belonged to the ancient culture of the Neolithic times of Hongshan. This culture existed in the basin of the Yellow River. According to archaeologists, found ritual axes, pendants and figures from jade were created in the III - II millennium BC. According to legend, it was believed that you can save the soul of the deceased by placing an amulet with white jade in his tomb.
It so happened that the term "jade" today is oftenrefer to any hard stone of green color. Jasper, chalcedony, aventurine and others are sometimes sold as pseudonephritis. In nature, this nephrite is found in only two forms: jadeite and nephrite. Mineral differs in a wide range of color colors: green, marble, black, cream, gray, yellowish and others.
The main countries that produce nephrite(stone), are China and New Zealand, North America and Burma. Up to the 16th century, Chinese stone was mined on the Khotan River (today - Xinjiang). It is believed that the mineral found in rivers is of higher quality than the mined. The native land of green jade of spinach color is the area of Lake Baikal.
In Mongolia, jade (stone) could only be wornmen. Most often, smoking pipes, snuffboxes and other amulets were made from it. The ancient Indians also revered his strength. An example of this is the famous idol Sumanat, which was entirely carved from a huge monolith and is dedicated to Shiva. The name of the mineral comes from the Greek "nephros", which means "kidney". Largely due to this, in the West, he gained a reputation for kidney stone, which acts as a strong biostimulator, affecting the physical condition of a person.
The most rare is the blue Chinesenephritis. The stone helps to achieve spiritual perfection, so it is best for monks and yogis. Jade of white color is better to wear Libra, because it balances them at times with a difficult character and softens it. Black and green jade are inferior to white in their energy, but they are excellent for Capricorn, red for Virgo. A stone nephrite with a green tint of cat's eye color is very rare. The relative density of the mineral is 6.5, and that of the jadeite is 7.0 on the Moss scale, so it is considered to be very strong.
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