Essays on the sources, usage, social significance and folklore of some of the most prominent precious materials in the history of China, South Asia and the Himalayas. A rich source of information on the anthropological implications of these materials, and the sometimes subtle links that developed between East and West in the quest for these treasured substances. The author was world renowned expert on jade in China, his writings on which remain important references to the present; the current collection of essays summarize his writings on precious substances other than jade.