Abu Raykhan Biruni on the Veneration of Jade and Worship of It

This article focuses on jade stone and its veneration as described in the encyclopedist Abu Rayhan Beruni’s work “Kitab al-jamahir fi ma’rifat al-javahir” (“Mineralogy”). The study examines the mineral nephrite, the beliefs and reverence surrounding it among the Chinese people, as well as related superstitions and folk beliefs. Beruni notes that Turkic peoples held superstitions and fetishistic beliefs associated with jade stone. He also emphasizes that in China, all Buddhist temples and those of other religions house remarkable jade statuettes and large statues. As a specific example, the article cites the giant white jade statue of Buddha, the patron god of Shanghai, located in the Chenghuangmiao temple. The article also provides a scientific analysis of Chinese religious rituals involving jade stone, “jade culture”, and traditional medicine practices.