HISTORY OF JADEITE JADE | Imperial Jade in China and Guatemala (1500BC - Present)

From Montezuma to Emperor Qianlong, the tale of jade is a swirling crystal ball through which we can see the lives of ancient peoples. Jade tells a story of resilience and identity. It demonstrates the fine line separating the passionate from the insane. It's the story of 20th-century global politics and an entire civilization of people on the opposite side of the globe.

Jade is a war story. An adventure story. And a love story.
Telling it speaks to the fundamentals of human nature.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this video possible, especially Mason-Kay Jade, Jade West, and the Monterey Bay Jade Festival.

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Shop Nephrite Jade from Jade West --
https://jademine.com/

Visit the Monterey Bay Jade Festival
https://montereybayjadefestival.org/

Misc. images from Canva Pro.

*LEARN MORE*
The Dowager Empress Cixi - https://a.co/d/hmUXvnm
Stone of Kings: In Search of the Lost Jade of the Maya - https://a.co/d/7waa6t8
Jade (Fred Ward Gem Series) - https://a.co/d/06OToo4
Jade: Stone of Heaven by Gump - https://a.co/d/gMLfiUc
The Stone of Heaven: Unearthing the Secret History of Imperial Green Jade - https://a.co/d/5SKiLFK

*RELATED VIDEOS AND PLAYLISTS*
WE VISITED A JADE MINE IN GUATEMALA! Watch the video here:
   • Jade Mining Explained (Where is Jade Found?)  

Jadeite Jade Playlist -    • Jadeite Jade  
Nephrite Jade Playlist -    • Nephrite Jade  
Gem and Jade Testing Playlist -    • Gem & Jade Testing  
2024 Monterey Bay Jade Festival    • 2024 Monterey Bay Jade Festival | Jade Car...  
History of Jade in Guatemala -    • History of Guatemalan Jade: The Lost Jade ...  
History of Jade in Big Sur, California-    • The History and Culture of Big Sur Jade (C...  
Types of Jade by Origin -    • JADE ORIGINS | Types of Jade from 15+ Sour...  

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*TIMESTAMPS*
0:53 What is jade? Jadeite Vs Nephrite
2:17 Emperor Qianlong and Jade
4:02 Mason-Kay jade
4:23 Jade in Guatemala (Lost Jade of the Mayans)
6:45 The Monterey Bay Jade Festival
7:18 The Dowager Empress Cixi and Her Love of Jade
9:15 Communism and the Halt of the Jade Trade

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A Note to the Viewer:

The incredible stories surrounding jade are preserved in books from authors such as Gerard Helferich, Richard Gump, Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark, and Fred Ward. I recommend every single one of them and will include links below. While this video did focus on jadeite jade, I also have a playlist of videos on nephrite jade – which is just as much a jade if not more, having been the historically significant jade of Ancient China, receiving unparalleled reverence for millenia. While green nephrite jade does not always fetch as high of prices as jadeite jade, I hope you will recognize both jades for their individual values – not just for their places in the international marketplace, but for their respective stories in history and science as well. They are two remarkable stones, and their stories go beyond jewelry. They are stories of culture and civilizations, and I hope you read at least one of the books below to get just a small peek into the world of jade.