The Significance Of Beads

Beads have a significant meaning in ancient China, as they were commonly referred to as "pearl jade". The traces of beads can be found in many idioms and consultant poems that have been passed down, such as "round and smooth beads" and "holding jade and holding beads". The appearance of these words not only expresses the ancient people's love for beads, but also officially confirms that beads and jade often coexist and are made together.
It is extremely difficult, so it is entrusted to its weight. Take pearl jade as the upper coin, gold as the middle coin, and knife cloth as the lower coin. This indicates that in the eyes of ancient people, the value of pearls and jade surpassed that of gold, and colleagues have also proved that ancient pearls and jade pendants were not just personal decorations, but also symbols of wealth, status, and power.
We know from archaeological literature that beads appeared before human civilization. In the two river basins that nurtured human civilization, almost every relic has the silhouette of beads. From the Yangshao culture, Hemudu culture to Xiajiadian and Sanxingdui ruins, beads made of materials such as jade, agate, turquoise, etc. have been discovered. Moreover, the number of unearthed beads and the level of craftsmanship used have been astonishing, providing us with many clues to understand the origin and development of human civilization. But as mentioned in the preface, this type of bead is not a common variety in our daily collection and play.