臺灣玉薄片的偏光影像
中
密魚川翡翠薄片的偏光影像
En
05
什麼是玉
What Is Jade?
目前在科學上，大致透過礦物組成定義了兩大類的玉，但仍有許多坊間流通的玉，是所謂廣義的玉，也就是符合美觀、堅硬、溫潤等特點的天然物質。例如「瓊瑰」又稱「瑪瑙」，礦物組成為石英。古代的「琅玕」指的是「土耳其玉」，是一種含水的銅鋁磷酸鹽礦物。「水玉」指的是「水晶」，也就是結晶良好的石英；而「漢白玉」是一種大理岩，由碳酸鹽礦物組成。
玉在中華文化中有避邪、擋煞、鑑真的作用，在古代常作成祭祀禮器、或象徵身分地位的裝飾。
Scientifically speaking, there are two major types of jade, depending on mineral composition. However, there are many types of natural materials commonly referred to as jade in a broader sense, with traits such as beauty, hardness, and smooth luster. One example is agate, which is composed of quartz. Langgan in ancient China refer to what we call turquoise, which is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. Crystal, or “water jade” in Mandarin, is in fact quartz with highly ordered crystalline structures. Hanbaiyu, or “Han white jade”, is a kind of marble, composed of carbonate minerals.
In Chinese culture, jade is used to ward off evil and harm as well as authenticating value, often made into ceremonial objects and status-symbolizing accessories.