The Cultureme JADE in Chinese Phraseology and Culture

Abstract

Based on the Conventional Figurative Language Theory (Dobrovol’skij and Piirainen 2005a), this paper aims to analyse, from a linguo-cultural perspective, the symbolism of jade in Chinese culture and language, focusing on its phraseological units and metaphors. For this purpose, first of all, we briefly explore the history and culture of jade in China, as well as its ideograms and uses throughout history. Then, I focus on analysing its cultural connotations in phraseological units, such as power, wealth, virtue, perfection, exquisiteness and beauty, among others. Its symbolism has evolved over various historical periods. In this day and age, some of them are still alive, while others have become obsolete. However, its symbolic traces are deeply marked in the language. Furthermore, the large number and frequent use of phraseological units and metaphors with the component ‘jade’ shows its idiosyncratic cultural importance in China.