Ying Yu Jade
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I finished reading the novel "Secrets of Jin-shei", an enjoyable read. The closest we came to learning anything about so ji is from Jennifer: "A persons name, the name of the King of Silla (479-500) the name of one of two Zen Buddhism Temples in Noto founded in 740". As I reached the end of the story, I realized that everything was fictitious, including the culture. But the jin shei is based on the secret womens' language and writing, nushu. The author cleverly invented an entire culture and some language for her novel. If no one "borrows" it over the weekend, I'll put it in the store for sale, or let me know if you want it, the book is heavy so will be about $8 including the shipping. February 27
End of the month, take $50 off any jadeite bangle bracelet regular price $500 February 26-27 only. Use coupon code BANGLE50, also good on Jade Bangle Bracelets web site. February 26
The Rachael Ray show today featured a discussion by Dr Christiane Northrup, author of Secret Pleasures of Menopause. Dr Northrup recommended using jade eggs for kegel exercise, "This is an ancient Chinese way that women stayed young for ever," adding that you place the jade eggs inside your vagina and exercise the entire pelvic floor. "Holding it in place strengthens the pelvic floor, just like Kegel exercises." We have been swamped with orders for jade eggs, jade ben wa balls all day, and we still have a good supply. I priced the jade eggs less than my major competitor when I first started selling them, so they are a reasonable price and include a pretty silk pouch. YYJ is pure and natural, a pretty pleasure to use. If you are a blog reader, use coupon code EGG3 to take $3 off an order of a set of jade eggs today and tomorrow, February 25 and 26. February 25
One of my friends who coined the term "jade acquisition disorder" gave her sister a beautiful jade bangle bracelets with lots of healing energy to help her recover from illness. She wrote that her sister gave her the jade bangle back, saying that jade just wasn't her thing. It's funny how some people are so attracted to jade, and a large percentage of the world's population isn't even aware it exists! And then some people buy jade only for its beauty to wear as jewelry. I occasionally get emails from women who buy the jade eggs and jade ben wa balls for kegel exercise, about how much they enjoy not just the experience of doing kegel exercise, but the ritual of using the jade, and how good the jade has come to feel for them. When you use jade, your qi and the jade qi interchange, and the healing, balancing energy increases. The really "fancy" bright jades are probably color treated, and you wouldn't expect to feel any energy from this kind of jade because by the time it's acid washed and filled with resin, it barely even resembles jade. But good qualtiy, natural jade is always beautiful, always has good energy and is a pleasure to wear. February 24
I'm reading a book passed to me by a friend who knows I like to read about China, and "The Secret of Jin-she" by Alma Alexander is strange and interesting. It's about old Dynasty China, and Jin-shie is secret sisterhood, sisters not of blood, but of the heart. The character development is wonderful, the plot fascinating, and based on myth more than fact. Truly one of the most different novels about old China I've ever read. The Jin-shei sisters are all young, so marriage is in their futures, and a jade sculpture called so ji is involved in the marriage proposal process. Of course, I'm curious about this jade so ji, and if you have knowledge about this, or a photo, please click the Earth to send me a message. And I'll share what we find out in this blog. February 23
This week is coupon week good for your next purchase. You can see the Daily Special for details. The more you spend, the higher your coupon. The coupons will be good through the end of March. Ying Yu Jade, JadeBangleBracelets and Calm Spirit will all be closed March 10-28, so there will be time to use your coupons either before or after our store closing dates. This is a good opportunity to buy now and save later. The Weekly Special is something I had made based on customer requests. Many people love jade but would prefer a Christian instead of a Chinese symbol for pendants, and the cross jade pendant is just what you asked for. It's a perfect way to wear jade and show your faith, and a great gift for Easter, for children, men and women. It also has hematite beads which have healing energy. The balance of jade and hematite is really good qi energy, as well as a beautiful necklace. I wrapped one around my wrist three times and it was a cute bracelet several friends admired, then purchased them, so the quantity is limited because the girlfriends just LOVE to look at my new jade things, and then have to get one for themselves. February 22
I listed some new carved jadeite bangle bracelets today. Sometimes readers tell me they heard that carved jade bangles are of lower quality jade than smooth ones. This is often true of commercial jade, because carving often causes cracks in the jade bangle, or the bangle breaks during carving, so sometimes carvers use lowest quality jade or even quartz or non-jade material to make them. So yes, those would be lower quality. But I love good quality, and that's the kind of carved jade bangles I purchase. You will almost always find imperfections in genuine jadeite carved bangles. Most often there are marks on the inside where a tool held the bangle while it was being carved and there are some lines, sometimes disguised by carving. And there are often nicks, small surface cracks, but this doesn't affect the durability. It's like hand made knit items, they aren't perfect, but they're natural and the irregularities are what make them special. If you look closely at your carved jade bangles, you will almost always find "something". The higher priced carved bangles are more perfect, and therefore cost more, so you are getting what you pay for. I make every effort to describe irregularities. But of course if you expect jade to be "perfect" you will never be happy with jade, because genuine jade is never perfect, it is stone and it is natural. February 19
People often ask me if there jade is "real". And for many of these people who ask, it's very important for them to know for sure. Sometimes they show me a photo, and sometimes describe things to look for that they've heard, like jade should have lines in it because it's a stone, it should be cold, but warm up when touched, then cool again. Maybe you remember when I wrote about a woman putting her jade in a flame to test it! Jade testing includes hardness, specific gravity and refraction, those are the main tests. Other methods are also used. A jeweler can look at it, but won't really know unless they test it. People who are crazy about jade generally acquire enough of it that they can learn to tell the "real thing" fairly accurately. But testing is the only way to know "for sure" February 18
Chinese holidays are rarely only one day. Their celebrations usually last several days. One of my Chinese friends asked what I was doing to celebrate the lunar new year, and I wrote that I made a stir fry, and my friend wondered what else I did for the holiday week. Many businesses are closed in China for 10 days, two weeks or longer to enjoy the holiday. So I will follow Chinese tradition and make the Daily Specials very special for the week, not only for last weekend and yesterday. Enjoy, and get some big savings. We're not a discount site, our jade is not artificially marked up so we can have a sale all the time, and a sale is a REAL sale. February 17
One of the predictions for Year of the Tiger is unrest, especially social unrest. There are stressful times in our future, and already we are seeing social and political unrest. Jade that will balance you during these times have calm and peaceful properties. Soft color, translucence, white, jade will have peaceful and calming energy. But you need some energy to give you strength, so look for veins of green. Today's Special is a perfect example, with some vibrant green veins on translucent, soft color jadeite. It's icy cold, but will warm to your skin for more yin and yang balance. There's been a trend toward purchasing Guan Yin pendants, and the Guan Yin bead mala, she is the Buddha of Compassion and a peaceful presence during unrest. February 16
Didn't get the jade gift you hoped for Valentine's Day? Monday and Tuesday take $10 off your purchase of jade jewelry including bangles, bracelets, necklaces, pendants when your order is $188+ and you use coupon code HAPPY10 on the order form. This discount is for blog readers only, so be sure to use the code. February 15
Happy Valentine's
Day, and best wishes for Chinese New Year of the Tiger. New jade zodiac
pendants listed, and new Chinese river jade bangle bracelets to replace
those that were sold yesterday. Much happiness to you. February 14
Read about Year of the Tiger,
click here
The weekend special is $10 off Chinese river jade with coupon code RIVER10. This jade is very traditional and Chinese people are proud of this jade for its natural beautiful color. It's one of China's "national jades", and used for centuries and prior to the introduction of the colorful jadeite from Burma. It's gorgeous, rarely sold outside of China, and I stumled onto it during one of my trips several years ago, and was the first jade seller in the USA to sell it. I always order some to get in my shipments from China, and each one is unique, one of a kind. Try one and save $10. February 13
A new customer who bought her first jade bangle from me a couple of weeks has been writing to me every day telling me how much she loves her jade bangle, how pretty it is, and how so very much nicer it is from the other jade bangles she purchased from other sellers. The bangle she purchased from YYJ was a Daily Special low prices at $188, so it was certain nice, but not one of the best. The she purchased a Chinese jade bangle, which she couldn't believe is as nice as it is for the price. But now she was concerned that maybe her other bangles weren't really jade, and she sent a photo of all of them. Sorry to say, her guess was right, and they aren't jade. They were stripey, and bright colors of greens, reds, pinks, blues, yellows, colors that are never seen in natural jade or jadeite. She wrote that they were cheap, and when she found her best size she ordered from YYJ for a "nicer" jade bangle. I really have to bite my tongue when people show me some of their "jade" bangles, because it's so difficult to tell someone that their jade isn't real jade, but glass, agate or even acrylic. You will ALWAYS get genuine jade at YYJ and JBB, pure and natural. And you will always get what you pay for. Most jade bangles are low and moderately priced, but there are also "fancy" very high quality jade bangles, something for everyone and every budget. February 12
Sunday is Valentine's
Day AND Chinese New Year. It's traditional to give gifts for both of these
occasions. This weekend, now through Sunday, I'll give you a gift I purchased
especially for this weekend when your order is for $100+. And if you buy
any jade bangle bracelets regular price $300+, I'll give you a deluxe
gift. I bought these at a trade show a few weeks ago to give as gifts
this weekend. Write "gift" in the comments box on the order
form as these gifts are reserved for Ying Yu Jade blog reading customers.
It's good luck to receive a gift during the Chinese New Year, and good
luck for the giver, as well. So we will all have good luck for the Year
of the White Yang Tiger.
February 11
Here's an excerpt
from an email from a woman who wears jade for its beauty and for health
reasons, and wears two on the same wrist: "I thought I would write
to you since I've been wearing this beautiful white bangle for about a
week now. Of course I immediately wrote back on my initial impression
but I knew that there was going to be a deeper, greater impression. This
bangle hasn't disappointed me. I wore it along with my sister bangle because
I just couldn't take it off and the combination of the two together gave
me such inner peace or balanced my emotions that I was able to handle
work situations that would normally have worn me down by the end of my
shift. I'm not one to wear a lot of jewelry at one time and thought wearing
two bangles was a little too much so I removed my sister bangle and went
to bed. When I woke up the next morning, I had a sore throat and felt
like I was strongly coming down with something. I immediately put my bangle
back on and two squirts of Zicam down my throat and by mid-day the sore
throat was pretty much gone. So, as of right now the two are on my left
wrist. They do clink together but I have always loved the clinking of
charm bracelets so that doesn't bother me plus it's high chime not clunk,
clunk. I have put a gold bangle in between but I don't like that look.
If you think that this is a bad practice let me know. I have seen some
Chinese women with two bangles on. Maybe they too are experiencing the
energy and need the two together. Both of them glow so beautifully and
compliment each other. I love them!"
Wear your jade intuitively, and together for the energy. February
10
Last week I wrote about sleeping on my jade pillow when I had a headache, and how my hair looked shinier in the morning, as well as headache gone. I've been sleeping in it all week to see if it will make my hair grow faster because I got a too-short haircut I'm not happy about. I think my hair grew 1/4" in the last 7 days. My hair grows fast in the hot summer, but slow when it's cool, and it's been cold so I was surprised it grew at all. Jade is so good for your body. I still need 3/4" more hair to feel better, so I'm still going to sleep on that jade! February 9
I couldn't resist making an "emerging spring" jade color pattern for the Daily Special. Most of us have had enough of winter, and in China, spring begins with Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival. Two popular jade color patterns this time of year are the "emerging spring", spring green on white, and "moss in snow", a deeper mossy green that survives all weather on white. The white and darker colors are yin and yang, very Dao and in harmony with the universe, and help to balance us. And pretty, too, to help us get through the last few weeks of winter. Watch for "moss in snow" tomorrow. February 8
I've been hearing
from readers about the heavy snow they received yesterday, from 30 inches
in Virgina to 22 inches in Pittsburgh. We are having cold weather here
in Florida from the edge of that storm.This morning it was 47 degrees,
cloudy and not what we expect for Florida winter weather. I usually start
my day with tea in a teaball, brewing in my Ox mug. But today called for
something more from tea. I got out my small teapot, and a fine bone china
cup and saucer, and brewed a pot of jasmine tea. For some reason, it tasted
better in the china cup, and made the morning more pleasant. Late winter
is a wonderful time to enjoy tea. Not only does tea have health benefits,
it also soothes and nourishes the body, mind and spirit. This weeks special
will be from the Calm
Spirit Herb and Tea Shop, our selection of Chinese teas. We offer
some unique and classic tea. These are all teas I drink and I raid the
store for my personal use. This week when you purchase two or more teas,
and write "gift" in the comments box on the order form, I'll
send you a gift that will brighten your day. It's a surprise, a sample
from a new business in Beijing, and a clue is that you should let me know
if you have a medium or large wrist. There's only a few, and while the
supply lasts. February 7
Last week a customer who has purchased the best quality jadeite bangle bracelets from YYJ asked if I had a white jadeite bangle in her size, which is the same size I wear. I had a pair of lao pit jadeite bangles I purchased for myself, and offered to sell her one. She didn't even ask for a photo, paid and I shipped it to her. When she received it she wrote how beautiful it is, and that she was very happy with her purchase. The price was more than $1000, and she trusted that since she had purchased from me in the past, she would get what she paid for, and it would be fine quality. I am very picky about the jade I buy and sell, and sell only what I would buy for myself. That's why it was always fun buying the jade bangles, even if they weren't my size, I could enjoy them while I had them, enjoy taking their photo, and eventually packing when I sold them. If I didn't like the jades, I wouldn't feel good about selling them to anyone. You will always get very good jade from YYJ. February 6
The Daily Special jade bangle was a real bargain today, and there are some real bargains on Jade Bangle Bracelets web sites. We're NOT a discount web site, nothing is artificially marked up so we can have a "sale", so a bargain is a real bargain. The daily special sold out today, as well as a bargain priced fu lu shou jadeite bangle, and I have been hearing from customers who were so disappointed about missing out on these, as they had been looking at them for awhile. I have a box of jade bangles I've been listing at $200 or below because I bought them years ago when jade was much less expensive, and have been offering them at low prices even though their present value is at least twice as much, because these are tough economic times, and we need our jade! So I'll repeat the "ancient Chinese saying", which is "get it, or regret it". I'm sorry I can't give a deep discount on everything. I personally shop in China to buy the best jade I can offer, and the prices you see are still below retail, in China! February 5
I went to Jared's today to get ideas for getting a new setting for an ancient diamond ring. Of course, I had to try on several things, and would like to purchase a bracelet for my right wrist, as I wear my jade bangle on my non-dominant left wrist. The bracelet I liked best was a tricolor diamond cut white, yellow and rose gold bars and beads, it was substantial enough to not get overshadowed by my jade bangle. The sales clerk admired my jade bangle, then showed me some jade she thought I would like, very obviously color treated jade set in 14k gold. She didn't understand that it was color treated, and had a brittle and harsh appearance. Jewelers just don't "get it" about good, natural high quality jadeite. It's rare to find in a "regular" jewelry store. I didn't get the bracelet, there were several of them, and I also can order them online as they are not rare or unique. But each jade bangle is rare and unique. The "get it or regret it" rule applies to jade, but I didn't get that feeling with the pretty, but one of many, gold bracelet. February 4
Last week I listed some bargain jadeite bangles, $188, and customers have written to tell me how nice they are, and what a value they were at that price. Photos sure don't show them at their best, and the actual jade bangle is much prettier than the photo shows. Today's Special is a big value, too, but the price reflects its value, what I paid for it, so a little higher. The past few days have been cloudy, raining, and I haven't taken photos. I like to take them in natural daylight, with the light reflecting off the high polish, and I can't get that good appearance when I don't have brighter daylight. I want you to see from the photo how they look, and you can be assured that what you get is nicer than the photo. If you see any YYJ or JBB jade bangles for less than $300, they are truly a good deal. February 3
Last night I had a headache, and put my jade pillow cover over my pillow, then turned on my side to put the hurting part against the jade. I slept fine and no headache in the morning. And my hair was really shiny. Usually when I get up in the morning my hair is dull, and I wash it in the morning to get it to look good before I start my day. I had "touched up the roots" Saturday and the chemical are harsh on the hair, and I was surprised it was so healthy looking. Jade pillow covers are made with pure and natural Chinese jade, and the pieces are small so they're comfortable. A lot of manual work goes into making these, then they are attached to silk backing. This jade is the same jade the rollers, gua sha tool, healing tools are made from so it really does balance your body while you sleep. February 2
The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete February newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for February regarding balance of body, mind and spirit. There is information about what kind of jade to wear this month if you wear jade for your health, and more
