Daughters of Shandong

Jade, a metamorphic rock that can naturally occur in several colors, has long been attributed with special qualities in Chinese culture. It was historically used in tools as well as ornamental and sacrificial objects. As Hai notes, “The Chinese believe that, over time, jade absorbs the aura of its bearer, and its color will change to reflect that energy” (335). Mom’s jade bangle is a deep green, which signals the qualities that Hai most admires in her: She is beautiful, graceful, and strong.

The jade bangle is an important family heirloom and symbolizes the connection and nurturing ties between women, who otherwise are not accorded much value in traditional Chinese culture. Mom’s mother, Hai’s Lao Lao, wore the bracelet for many years, and both Mom and Hai believe it has become imbued with her essence. The jade bangle, a gift at Mom’s wedding, represents the love and nurturing of her birth family as well as their goodwill. During her marriage, the jade bangle becomes a relic of an easier, kinder past when Mom’s present is difficult and her future uncertain.

Mom carries this valuable item throughout their journey, a symbol of her own hidden value, and admits to Hai, “I treasure this bangle because it is a way for me to hold on to my past” (336).