This is a beautifully carved piece of rare natural blue jade with areas of golden and rust in it.  The artist that carve it used the color variation in the jade to his advantage enhancing the shape of the dragon.  The piece is carved on both sides.  Suspended from a black natural leather cord that is adjustable in length from 15” to 30” so it can be worn close to the neck or long.

The dragon is the imperial emblem of the Emperors from the Han period, the coat of arms being two dragons contesting the fiery pearl.  The dragon, a supernatural creature, is the symbol of power, strength, wisdom and goodness and represents the utmost in attainment: good luck and success in life. It is also believed to be the guardian of hidden treasures.  It represents the spirit of growth and change.

Worn by Imperial families for centuries, jade is a very spiritual stone.  It has been called the jewel of heaven, the stone of immortality, a symbol of purity and is believed to embody the five cardinal virtues:  charity, modesty, courage, justice and wisdom.  From cloudy white to golden brown, light to dark green, to rare lavender, this most highly prized Asian stone is of many shades.  Jade is treasured for its magical powers to increase life span, cure all ailments and ward off evil spirits.