Study on Ancient Theories about Colours of Jade and Early History of Application of Jadeite Jade

A textural research is conducted toward the ancient theories about the jade colours, and the plain and scientific understanding by the ancientscholars in regard to the jade colours is revealed.After a review on the past study about the jade virtues and the colouring mechanisms for both nephrite jade and jadeite jade,the materials thatcorrespond to the ancientjade colours are explored in detail.It is most probable that the red,black and yellow as well as the green colours that were termed as“green as bird's feather” or“green as newly grown grass” may be indicative of its Burmese origin of jadeite jade.As a result,itcan be postulated thatjadeite jade imported into China could have occurred as early as the North Song Dynasty or even earlier.