gems, jade, pyroxene jade, fei cui, Japan, Itoigawa

Appearing in the Early Jōmon period and suddenly disappearing in the Nara period, the green stone known as “jade” captivated the people of ancient Japan. Tracing this stone so admired by the ancients, the book recounts the search for and discovery of its source localities and, while touching upon traditions such as the legend of Nunakawa-hime, approaches the true nature of this still mysterious jade.