gems, beryl, emerald, history of gemology, ancient gems, glyptic, Rome, Greece, Egypt, Arabic Mineralogy

Qiu examines the place of emerald in Chinese society during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, tracing how the imported green gemstone entered China through long-distance trade and became associated with wealth, status, and elite material culture. Drawing on Chinese historical texts and surviving objects, the essay considers the terminology used for emerald, its foreign origins and routes of transmission, and references to the stone in court and luxury contexts. Particular attention is given to the expansion of contacts between China and Central and Western Asia under the Yuan and to the continued circulation and appreciation of precious stones during the Ming. The study situates emerald within the broader history of Sino-foreign exchange, showing how an exotic gemstone was incorporated into Chinese systems of value and display while retaining associations with distant lands and international commerce.