A GIFT WITH NEW MEANING: A LITTLE JADE SNAKE

Leslie Bohon

A small jade snake

Why I have this What are the connections with the

course? Direct Indirect

Direct connection: Meaning making in China Jade – “yu” – 11 virtues (De) Confucius (551 - 479 BC)

Jade = virtue Brilliancy = purity Hardness = sureness of intelligence Angles = justice Sound = music Color = loyalty Interior flaws = sincerity Brightness = heaven Substance born of mountain and water = earth Used alone = chastity Price = truth

"Gold has a value; jade is invaluable."

How we encountered symbolism and meaning making in China On campuses – banners, statues In cultural sites– symbolism of colors,

shapes and designs of buildings Around the cities – on banners,

pictures of leaders, billboards with messages about desirable behavior

In conversations – with our guide Jian Hua (Robert) and with students

Indirect connection: redefining the past Meaning to my students: To give jade as a

gift means a wish of protection, abundance, and healing.

Clearer understanding of who those students are as Chinese people – what their classrooms may look like, the messages that they have received in their daily lives, the demands of the educational system

Allows a deeper appreciation for the symbolism in the gift and the Chinese psyche