Jade from Khotan was traded across the Silk Road and became especially valued in China.
Khotan, an oasis kingdom in the southern Tarim Basin, was famous for nephrite jade obtained from rivers and mountain regions south of the city. Chinese demand for jade was ancient and intense because the stone was durable, attractive, and associated with ritual, status, morality, and imperial authority.
Khotan’s jade traveled eastward along routes through the Tarim Basin. It was not the only commodity associated with the oasis: Khotan also became known for silk production, carpets, and Buddhist culture. The city’s location allowed it to serve as both a producer and a commercial intermediary between China, Central Asia, and South Asia.
A common mistake is to treat “jade” as one single mineral. Nephrite and jadeite are distinct minerals, and Khotan was historically especially associated with nephrite. The Silk Road trade therefore moved both finished jade objects and valuable raw material for carving.