One famous piece of jade called a Bian He’s rock has a story behind it to the same effect. 

The story tells how over two thousands years ago a fellow named Bian He found a large jade filled rock which he offered to the king. The king called in a jade expert to verify weather the rock may really be filled with jade when the expert said that it wasn't the king flew into a great rage and order Bian He left foot cut off. 

Many years past and the old king died, Bian He thought that now he could give the large jade filled rock to the new king. The new king however called in the jade expert and again the jade expert said that Bian He was trying to pull a fast one the new king order Bian He right foot cut off. 

Many years past and this king died. Bian He was so distraught that he cried for three days and three nights until in the end he ran out of tears and shed blood instead. 

When the late king heard of Bian He plight he order the large rock cut open inside was found a beautiful piece of jade Which the king had polished and named Bian He rock. 

Ancient jade objects were carved in a variety of ways and into different shapes and sizes according to their functions. 

Jade is much harder then any metal iron or steel saws are thus powerless to cut through jade. 

Cutting jade with modern tools poses no problem but in the past jade carver had to rely on grinding the jade with abrasives. 

Ancient books record the use of a special Kun Wu knife that cut jade like clay. Modern scholars find such descriptions hard to believe. 

Some researchers believe that the Kun Wu knife must have been made from corundum, which is not on mull scale of hardness, and thus much harder then any form of jade. 

Archaeological discoveries have proven that tools for carving nephrite jewelry have existed in china since Neolithic times. 

Jade carving reached a high point during the Bronze Age because by that time the Chinese had discovered how to use stone to cut jade. 

Particles from any rock harder then seven on mull scale of hardness may be used as an abrasive to cut and carve jade.

Cortex sand was the softest abrasive used rating a seven on mull scale of hardness. 

Crushed almandine garnets an eight on mull scale of hardness were also used as an abrasive as was crushed black corundum, which is a nine on mulls scale. 

After the 10^th century AD a mixture of corundum and very fine calcites, which rates a ten on mull, scale was used as a polishing medium. 

These abrasives and polishing agents were but part of the jade carver's range of tools which also includes bamboo iron steel brass and even water. 

Jade carving is fundamentally based on the principles that rock against rock. 

Which is to say that if you want to carve something out of one rock you have got to find another even harder rock to carve it with. 

Since jade is a kind of rock the same principles applies to jade carving. 

Steel grinding wheels were also commonly used to supplement the stone abrasive, which were also known as jade abrasives. The steel grinding wheel where carvers best friend. 

The steel-grinding wheel was equipped with a trident that powered a spinning wheel that enables the steel to cut through the much harder jade. 

Different abrasives were employed at different stages of the jade cutting almandine garnet abrasives were used to slice open the jade. Black corundum abrasive was used in conjunction with steel spinning wheel to give form to the jade and crush pearl abrasive was used to polishes the jade. 

Chinese jade carving techniques did not change during the entire millennium up the 10^th century AD. 

Generally speaking the traditional jade process can be broken down into six steps. 

The first step was cutting the raw jade.

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The second was carving the basic shape of the jade desired

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The third step was crafting the desired design on to the prepared shape 

Carving in the details was the forth step 

This was followed by yet another stage of detailed work to put a final touch on the jade design 

The sixth and final step was polishing the jade to a high gleam 

A piece of jade was finished if it had already passed through these six stages.

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But carving jade was no easy matter due to jade's hardness. Carving a jade bracelet was a demanding and time-consuming effort. Thus persuasion and intricate have always had been the hallmark of great jade carvings. 

A piece of jade carved into a cabbage that is now stored at the national palace museum is said to be so realistic that it smells like cabbage soup. Each cabbage leaf has been carved with attention to minuet detail and relief lending an air of unbelievable realism to the work. 

After present day Xin Jaing province was brought under Chinese control 2000 years ago the supply of jade suddenly expanded. And jade became much more accessible to the average person. 

Jade implements during this period are of a much higher quality then their predecessors. The jade objects previous to this period often have small nicks and scratches. But that might be because they were used more often then there counter parts. 

During the next ten centuries there were no major improvements in jade carving technology. 

But by the 10^th century AD craftsman of the Song dynasty were learning how to incorporate the color variations into their design. And could carve flowers with green stems and white blossoms all from a single piece of jade. 

Jade works noted for there intricate were called Qiao Zuo, which means that the jade was carefully carved into a realistic representation of a multicolored object. 

A skilled and meticulous carver and a piece of jade with the appropriate color variations were essential to creation to the Qiao Zuo work. 

The jade cabbage now stored at the national palace museum is perhaps the best know Qiao Zuo piece and is considered to be one of Chinas national treasures. 

The writing brush washer made out of deep red cornelian with just a spot of white is also a famous Qiao Zuo work. Out of the cornelian the jade artiest carved two peach tree that represent long life with the small white spot he carved a tiny bat the Chinese word which is a harmonium for prosperity.