The English word
'jade' is derived from the Spanish term
piedra de ijada (first recorded in 1565) or
'loin stone', from its reputed efficacy in
curing ailments of the loins and kidneys.
In Myanmar it is
called kyauk sein, which literally means
‘green stone’.
Nephrite and jadeite were used by people from the prehistoric for similar purposes. Both are about the same hardness as quartz, and they are exceptionally tough. They are beautifully coloured and can be delicately shaped. Thus it was not until the 19th century that a French mineralogist determined that "jade" was in fact two different materials.
Among the earliest known jade artefacts excavated from prehistoric sites are simple ornaments with bead, button, and tubular shapes. Additionally, jade was used for axe heads, knives, and other weapons.
