12 



The National Geographic Magazine 



the bad shades to hide the beautiful, or 

 the beautiful the bad, represents loyalty; 

 the defects under the surface, yet ap- 

 parent, represent sincerity ; its luster, 

 like that of the rainbow, represents the 

 firmament ; its wonderful material, ex- 

 tracted from the mountains and waters, 

 represents the earth ; cut into Kuei or 

 Chu, without other embellishment, it 

 symbolizes virtue, and the price at which 

 all the world values it sj-mbolizes truth. ' ' 

 This passion for jade, the classic or 

 poetic color of which is white in China, 

 causes Chinese writers to use the word 

 figuratively whenever they wish to in- 



dicate anything very white, very pure,, 

 or very perfect. In the language of 

 compliment no word of praise rises 

 above that which likens beauty to jade, 

 and the loftiest thought, as well as the 

 highest moralit}^, are compared to it. 

 References are constantly made to it in 

 poetry, as in the Emperor Kien-lung's 

 verse — 



"While the waning moon in the westward- 

 hangs like an orb of jade." 



The most ancient of the Chinese clas- 

 sical books, the Shu King, or Book of 

 Historical Documents, relating to the 

 period B. C. 2357 to 627, mentions jade 



T A K L 



A M A K. 



KAKSHAt 



AM D IE S 





E3650- 

 23760- 



Scale 



Preliminary Survey Map of the Khotan Valle}', Site of the Chinese Jade Mines. 

 Dr M. A. Stein, H. M. Indian Educational Service. Printed by Courtesy 

 of Dr. M. A. Stein and Royal Geographical Society, London. 



By 



