I defer to the two other answers as a partial explanation. However, there is also the matter of how Jade was crafted and how it is crafted even today. The bangle is the most treasured Jade ornament for many reasons. read more
Intriguingly the Mayans in Pre-Colombian Central America did place a similar value on jade as the Chinese. In the end status symbols tend to be, like beauty, in the eyes of the beholder. read more
Importance of Jade in Chinese Culture Chinese people love jade not only because of its aesthetic beauty, but also because of what it represents in terms of social value. Confucius said that there are 11 De, or virtues, represented in jade. read more