Jade's sacred status in Chinese civilization dates back to the Neolithic era. The "Jade Pig-Dragon" unearthed from the 5,000-year-old Hongshan culture, with its coiled form symbolizing cosmic cycles, reflects early beliefs in "communicating with deities through jade." By the Shang and Zhou dynasties, jade evolved from ritual objects to symbols of power. The Rites of Zhou records: "Six jade artifacts are used to worship heaven, earth, and the four directions." The rule of "green bi disks for heaven, yellow cong tubes for earth" established jade's connection to cosmology.