Getting to know jade better
IT’S not every day that you can get a jade expert. Some 30 students were lucky to have a former art and antique dealer, W.K. Chui, give a two-hour talk on the impact jade has had on the Chinese civilisation, culture, language, customs and arts at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Kampar, Perak, recently.
Chinese nephrite jade were first worn by kings only and buried with them upon death. In ancient times, jade was used in solemn religious ceremonies, divination and sacrifices.
The use of jade in rituals was fully developed during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 221 BC), said Chui, 67, an electrical engineer by profession. He also has a Master’s in Business Administration.
In general, jade was worn by adults. However, in the last century, children and even babies started to wear them.
“New Myanmar jadeite is more expensive than new Chinese nephrite gram for gram.
“However, if the nephrite piece is an antique carving, then the Chinese jade could be much more valuable than Myanmar jadeite,” said Chui, who ran Timeless Treasures, an art and antique shop in Kelana Jaya, Selangor for two years. Prior to that, he had a similar business in Montreal, Canada, for four years, before returning to his roots in Malaysia.
Myanmar jade is popular because it is much more striking as jewellery.
Chinese nephrite, Chui said, is more for connoisseurs and collectors of antiquity because there is a story behind each piece. The subtle beauty of mutton-fat or white nephrite will lend itself very well to carving, much better than the best of green Myanmar jadeite.
At the talk, many students were surprised that the green jade was not Chinese but Myanmese jadeite. They also learnt how to differentiate nephrite jade from other stones and how to avoid buying fakes.
The students were also amazed at how jade had impacted on the Chinese culture and language.
Chui said: “In the Chinese language, there are more than 300 words using the Chinese radical, yue, for jade with good, positive meanings.”
The talk to explain the 9,000 years history on Chinese jade culture, he felt, was “wholly inadequate to cover the dawn of jade culture
to present day. It does not even scratch the surface due to time constraints”.
“I know there are jade collectors who have no clue about Chinese jade and wrongly believe Burmese jadeite is Chinese jade.
“An elderly neighbour has a large collection of jadeite and always thought they are from China until I advised him of the historical difference,” he said.
Chui hopes to set up a Malaysian Chinese Jade Society for jade lovers.
With such a society, he could conduct in-depth seminars on jade as the first step to “to perpetuate and preserve the jade culture and heritage”.
He offers to give talks to any institutions of higher learning, colleges, social clubs or any group of people who wish to learn more about the “stone of heaven” (jade) which according to Confucius “embodies the seven virtues of a scholar and gentleman”.
For more information, contact Chui at waikongchui@gmail.com.