In this artwork, how is the Spirit of Jade Mountain of the Description of Jade Mountain elucidated?
Jade has historically been used in much Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art. Jade has long been very important to Chinese culture, with multiple symbolic meanings. According to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, it represents "tranquility and harmony of otherworldliness and the longing of the cultivated individual to escape the mundane world to commune with nature." In Chinese culture jade represents purity, beauty, longevity, and immortality. Historically, jade was thought to have magical properties and was believed to grant its owner immortality. Jade was hard to find in China, and its rarity may help explain its popularity as a gemstone. Expert carvers were also rare, as working with jade was a very challenging and specialized skill. As a result, jade carvings were a sign of wealth and status.
Jade Minneapolis Institute of Art jade China