In a book of general knowledge compiled by the Ming dynasty author Sung Ying-hsing, in the section devoted to jewelry and precious stones, it says: "The earliest glass baubles were not produced in China, but rather are produced in the Western regions [Xinjiang].
明朝宋應星所著《天工開物》一書珠玉篇中關於琉璃有如下的描述：「凡琉璃石……，不產中國，產於西域，其石五色皆具，中華人豔之，遂竭人巧以肖之… …」