About the Importance of Jewelry in Different Asian Cultures
Asia is probably the continent with the richest culture all over the world. Any reference to Asia by the Westerners marks it as a continent where superstition rules and mysticism is alive. Asians regard this in the positive way, with their belief of the gods. There are varying religions in Asia that make it a convergence of cultures that contribute to its rich history.
No matter the differences between these cultures in Asia, there is one prominent commonality within the region. That is the presence of jewelry, as used in different circumstances. Asians depict their deities as being adorned with jewelry that expresses their desires and their purposes. Some Asian cultures even uplift the adornment of the body with the said jewels to please the gods.
The gods want their followers to be presentable, and in the Chinese culture jewelry is one of the aspects that keep their spirit alive. The Feng Shui, for one, arranges the parts of the house and offers different adornments to the house in the form of statues and symbols for good luck. Chinese stones are also added to jewelry that has specific purposes like for good luck, health, love or prosperity among others. They contribute to the collection of jewelry, for they are Asian in origin. Chinese are very particular with their culture, and they believe that non-compliance will result to bad luck in the family.
The Christian culture is nobler with its status. It believes that any material possession does not matter and can be ignored, as long as the heart is pure and good. The God they believe in also teaches them to repent and fast, which includes sharing their personal possessions with their brothers and sisters who are in need. Any Asian jewelry that has been named is not significantly upheld.
The Muslims believe that their rulers should be adorned with the gifts of heaven, and so their rajahs and princesses are. Their jewelry comes in the form of tribal necklaces, head dresses laden with stones and earrings of different meanings. They also have special jewels that can only be worn in special occasions like marriage and burial. Their culture extends from the jewels to the outfits they wear, which are instructed to have bright patterns that they revere.
The Hindu culture is similar in this aspect, with their colorful saris and head dresses. They also have their own collection of traditional jewelry passed on from generation to generation. However, not every one of them has such. Because of the caste system, there are untouchables who are not allowed to have any possession except their body. That means that they are not allowed any jewelry, or any food for that matter. They are the ones who are not blessed by the gods.
The Brahmins, the highest caste, are the richest. They have access to any form of riches that they want, and they are the most free. They are also the most blessed by the deities, as shown in their dresses and jewels. They are the ones who model the jewels that their culture treasures.