Since ancient times, jade has held a paramount position in Chinese culture, symbolizing not only beauty but also the noble character of a gentleman. However, beyond its brilliant artistic value, jade has also played an indispensable role in the health preservation philosophy of the Chinese nation. When we open Li Shizhen's monumental work, 'Compendium of Materia Medica' from the Ming Dynasty, we discover that jade is not merely an ornament; it is endowed with unique medicinal value and health-preserving effects. This embodies the ancients' profound insights and practical wisdom regarding all things in heaven and earth.
The story begins in the distant prehistoric era. As early as the Neolithic Age, our ancestors discovered the warm, tough, and corrosion-resistant properties of jade, considering it a divine object for communicating with heaven and earth, and warding off evil. The exquisite jade dragons of the Hongshan culture and the mysterious jade cong of the Liangzhu culture all attest to jade's supreme status in primitive beliefs. As civilization progressed, jade gradually integrated into all aspects of daily life, particularly its connection to human health, which deeply pondered by the ancients.
In Volume 8, 'Metals and Stones Department,' of 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' the records of jade are quite detailed. Li Shizhen cited numerous earlier discussions and, combined with his own research, categorized jade into various types, such as 'jade powder' (玉屑) and 'jade spring' (玉泉). He explicitly stated: "Jade is sweet, neutral, and non-toxic in nature and flavor. It primarily treats heat in the stomach, asthma, vexation, quenches thirst, moistens the heart and lungs, aids the voice, calms the spirit, benefits blood circulation, and brightens the eyes and ears." This record is not baseless but is a summary based on long-term observation and practice. For example, "treating heat in the stomach, asthma, and vexation" may be related to the cool touch of jade and the regulatory effect of its trace elements on the human internal environment. The ancients believed that jade could "moisten the heart and lungs," which aligns with modern scientific understanding that certain jades rich in trace elements like selenium, zinc, and nickel are beneficial for cardiovascular and respiratory health. And "calming the spirit and benefiting blood circulation" reflects the traditional understanding of jade's effects on the spiritual level and blood circulation, consistent with the experience that wearing jade can make people feel peaceful and promote smooth qi and blood flow.
More interestingly, 'Compendium of Materia Medica' also mentions methods of consuming jade. For instance, 'jade powder,' which is finely ground jade, could be taken internally. The ancients believed that consuming jade powder could "prolong life, lighten the body, and make one immortal." While modern medicine is cautious about directly consuming jade powder, this concept reflects the ancients' reverence for and utilization of the life energy contained within jade. Furthermore, the book records 'jade spring,' which is "jade water" formed by jade stones soaking in water for a long time, believed to have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and nourishing the body. This wisdom of using jade's physical properties to improve water quality is still quite inspiring today.
Jade's health preservation goes beyond oral consumption or drinking. The ancients also skillfully crafted various implements from jade, such as jade pillows, jade combs, and jade pendants. Jade pillows, due to their cooling properties, were believed to "brighten the eyes and prolong life," helping to improve sleep quality; jade combs were used for combing hair to stimulate scalp acupoints, promote blood circulation, and achieve the effects of "blackening hair and dispelling wind." Wearing jade pendants was considered a long-term health preservation method, where long-term contact between jade and skin was believed to allow trace elements from the jade to slowly penetrate, thereby achieving health benefits. This is the deeper meaning of "jade nurtures people, and people nurture jade."
In modern society, with the advancement of science and technology, our understanding of jade has deepened. Through spectral analysis, X-ray diffraction, and other methods, we have found that different types of jade indeed contain various trace elements beneficial to the human body. For example, Hetian jade is rich in elements such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, which have positive effects on bone health and blood circulation; Xiuyan jade, due to its unique physical structure, is believed to have good magnetotherapy effects. While we should not blindly believe certain ancient assertions, the records of jade's medicinal value in 'Compendium of Materia Medica' undoubtedly provide us with valuable cultural heritage and research directions.
The combination of jade and traditional Chinese medicine is a crystallization of the traditional health preservation wisdom of the Chinese nation. It is not just a medicinal record of a mineral but also the ancients' profound understanding of the harmonious relationship between life, health, and nature. Drawing on the wisdom of jade health preservation from 'Compendium of Materia Medica' does not mean returning to the past, but rather re-examining and discovering the treasures in the traditional cultural treasury from a modern scientific perspective, allowing this millennial luster of jade to continue nourishing our bodies and minds and inheriting the unique charm of the Chinese nation.