[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Natural-World \ #Landforms # 玉 yù jade ## Components [[丶 (zhǔ)]] [[王 wáng]] [[王 (wáng，yù)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "玉" primarily refers to jade, symbolizing its qualities of beauty, purity, and preciousness. It is also used metaphorically to denote something of high value, purity, or elegance, often appearing in poetic and literary contexts to evoke admiration or reverence. ## History In ancient times, the character "玉" depicted a string with three jade stones hanging from it, symbolizing the essence of jade – a precious gem known for its warmth and lustrous beauty. Over time, its form evolved to resemble the character for "王" (king), but with three horizontal strokes of equal length and distance between them, distinguished by a dot in the lower right corner. Jade, being a symbol of purity and nobility, was often used metaphorically to describe beauty and preciousness. Today, "玉" primarily refers to jade, representing its qualities of warmth, radiance, and purity. It's also used metaphorically to express admiration or reverence for something beautiful or precious, as seen in ancient poetry and literature. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[玉 ora 1.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[玉 bronce 1.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[玉 sello 1.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[玉 cle 1.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[玉 reg 1.svg]]