Africans carve sculptures in wood, and Makonde woodcarving embodies the essence of  traditional African culture. Similarly, the Chinese carve sculptures in jade, and jade sculptures are among the most famous representations of China's culture.

In China, Jade symbolizes beauty. Many well-known Chinese folk tales are related to jade. For example, in the famous folk tale "Nü Wa Mends the Sky," the goddess used a multicolored stone to mend the sky, and the stone is a special kind of jade. From this tale, one can observe that the Chinese people have a special history with jade. 

Because of this preference for jade, the stone has become an integral part of daily life in China. Since ancient times, Chinese people have worn jade ornaments, and appreciated and collected jade artworks. Jade in ancient China also symbolized identity and status. The purity and value of the jade ornament one wears reflects the status of the owner. Even the imperial jade seal that symbolizes ancient Chinese imperial power is made from a type of valuable jade.

As an ancient Chinese art form, jade sculpture enjoys a long history that can be traced back to primitive society. In the Shang (1600-1100 B. C.) and Zhou (1100-256 B.C.) dynasties, sculpting jade became a profession, and jade objects served both ceremonial and decorative purposes. A jade sculptor must consider the jade's texture, shape and color before designing and carving it. There are many varieties of jade products, including large artworks such as human figures, utensils, birds, animals and flowers, as well as smaller pieces like pins, rings, seals and ornaments.

Apart from its long history, jade has also had a strong influence on Chinese society, politics, culture and arts, affecting the mindset and customs of the Chinese people for generations.

Chinese jade plays a special role in the cultural history of China. Confucius once said that jade was a symbol of various moral virtues. That's why gentlemen in ancient China customarily wore jade ornaments.

In addition, many pieces of jade artwork also depict some ancient Chinese literary allusions that reflect people's aspirations in society, politics and romance. Artists use a variety of techniques to depict these scenes, which are usually taken from Chinese classic novels.

Additionally, jade sculpture has also taken artistic elements and design patterns from other traditional Chinese art forms, including New Year woodcuttings, shadow puppets and paper-cutting.

Today, jade is still loved and admired by the Chinese. China's jade sculptures also enjoy an esteemed reputation worldwide for their exquisite detail. Some jade artworks have been collected in museums abroad, including the Louvre in France and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the United States.

In 2006, the Chinese Government classified many jade sculptures as part of China's intangible cultural heritage. A number of measures have also been adopted to protect and pass on this traditional art, and save it from becoming an archaic art of the past.