1288:. Diodorus says Philadelphus exterminated the "divers sorts of dreadful Serpents" that formerly infested on the island on account of the "Topaz, a resplendent Stone, of a delightful Aspect, like to Glass, of a Golden colour, and of admirable brightness; and therefore all were forbidden to set footing upon that Place; and if any landed there, he was presently put to death by the Keepers of the Island." The Egyptian mining technique relied upon luminosity. "This Stone grows in the Rocks, darken'd by the brightness of the Sun; it's not seen in the Day, but shines bright and glorious in the darkest Night, and discovers itself at a great distance. The Keepers of the Island disperse themselves into several Places to search for this stone, and wherever it appears, they mark the Place, with a great Vessel of largeness sufficient to cover the sparkling Stone; and then in the Day time, go to the Place, and cut out the Stone, and deliver it to those that are Artists in polishing of 'em" (tr. Oldfather et al. 1814 3: 36). According to Strabo, "The topaz is a transparent stone sparkling with a golden lustre, which, however, is not easy to be distinguished in the day-time, on account of the brightness of the surrounding light, but at night the stones are visible to those who collect them. The collectors place a vessel over the spot as a mark, and dig them up in the day" (tr. Hamilton and Falconer 1889 3:103). Ball notes that the legendary "topaz" of Topazios island is olivine, which is not luminescent while true topaz is, and suggests, "This tale may well have been told to travelers by astute Egyptian gem merchants anxious to enhance the value of their wares by exaggerating the dangers inherent to procuring the olivines" (1938: 500). In the present day, the island mine is now submerged underwater and inaccessible.
592:
480:
1767:(r. 325–299 BCE) summoned Zheng Tong (鄭同) for an audience and asked how to avoid warfare with neighboring feudal states. Zheng Tong replied, 'Well, let us suppose there is a man who carries with him the pearl of Sui-hou and the Ch'ih-ch'iu armband as well as goods valued at ten thousand in gold. Now he stops the night in an uninhabited place." Since he has neither weapons nor protectors, "It is clear he will not spend more than a night abroad before someone harms him. At the moment there are powerful and greedy states on your majesty's borders and they covet your land. ... If you lack weapons your neighbours, of course, will be quite satisfied" (tr. Crump 1970: 327).
522:
1037:("Records of Foreign People") says, "The king holds in his hand a jewel five inches in diameter, which cannot be burnt by fire, and which shines in (the darkness of) night like a torch. The king rubs his face with it daily, and though he were passed ninety he would retain his youthful looks." (Hirth and Rockhill 1911: 73). Based on this incombustibility, Laufer says this night-shining jewel was probably a diamond (1915: 63). Others state that it "serves instead of a lamp at night", has "the appearance of a glowing fire", or of that "of a great flame of fire." Due to its luminescence,
1653:, the native peoples tell stories of a fabulous beast with a luminous gem. "The carbunculo is represented to be of the size of a fox, with long black hair, and is only visible at night, when it slinks slowly through the thickets. If followed, he opens a flap or valve in the forehead, from under which an extraordinary, brilliant, and dazzling light issues. The natives believe that this light proceeds from a brilliant precious stone, and that any fool hardy person who may venture to grasp at it rashly is blinded; then the flap is let down, and the animal disappears in the darkness" (
1701:
494:
1910:
move again, and the place was called Mound of the
Wounded Serpent. One year later the serpent brought a bright pearl in its mouth to give the ruler of Sui to show its gratitude. The pearl was greater than an inch in diameter, of the purest white and emitted light like moonglow. In the dark it could illuminate an entire room. For these reasons it was known as "Duke Sui's Pearl" or the "Spirit Snake's Pearl" , or, again, the "Moonlight Pearl" . (tr. DeWoskin and Crump 1996: 239).
1210:
1848:, who after seeing a fledgling stork fall and break its leg, nursed it back to health, and set it free. One year later, as Heraclea sat at the door of her cottage, the young stork returned and dropped a precious stone into her lap, and she put it indoors. Awakening that night, she saw that the gem "diffused a brightness and a gleam, and the house was lit up as though a torch had been brought in, so strong a radiance came from, and was engendered by, the lump of stone" (tr.
942:
452:
578:
1196:
1934:(1157–1199) used to tell a parable about ungrateful people. A Venetian, Vitalis, was rescued from a horrible death by a ladder being let down into a pit into which he had fallen. A lion and a serpent trapped in the same pit used his ladder to escape, and the lion in gratitude brought to Vitalis a goat he had killed and the snake a luminous jewel that he carried in his mouth. As Richard reportedly told the story after his return from the
1225:
1638:. "On its head was a very sparkling stone, like a Carbuncle, of inestimable price: That it commonly veil'd that rich Jewel with a thin moving skin, like that of a man's eye-lid: but that when it went to drink or sported himself in the midst of that deep bottom, he fully discover'd it, and that the rocks and all about receiv'd a wonderful lustre from the fire issuing out of that precious crown" (de Rochefort 1666: 15).
1187:(1888) discovered an early Greek alchemical text "from the sanctuary of the temple" that says the Egyptians produced "the carbuncle that shines in the night" from certain phosphorescent parts ("the bile") of marine animals, and when properly prepared these precious gems would glow so brightly at night "that anyone owning such a stone could read or write by its light as well as he could by daylight" (Kunz 1913: 173).
417:(from Latin "carbunculus", "small glowing ember") as: "A name variously applied to precious stones of a red or fiery colour; the carbuncles of the ancients (of which Pliny describes twelve varieties) were probably sapphires, spinels or rubies, and garnets; in the Middle Ages and later, besides being a name for the ruby, the term was esp. applied to a mythical gem said to emit a light in the dark" (Ball 1938: 498).
620:
1673:. Bandelier believes his Bolivian informants that the carbunculo has existed from the earliest times, and "certainly before the conquest, so that its introduction cannot be attributed to the Spaniards" (1910: 320). Nevertheless, based upon how closely the above American versions of the myth follow the pattern of the European form, Ball concludes that the Spaniards introduced the carbuncle myth (1938: 504).
662:
550:
508:
536:
634:
438:
1475:", the heroic prince Jamila Khatun encounters a monstrous dragon that carried in its mouth "a serpent which emitted a gem so brilliant that it lighted up the jungle for many miles". His plan to obtain it was to throw a heavy lump of clay on the luminous gem, plunging the jungle into darkness, "so that the dragon and the serpent knocked their heads against the stones and died" (tr.
564:
424:
606:
1817:") mentions the paired gems, "Shards and stones are prized as jewels / Sui and He rejected". This poetic anthology also says, "It grieves me that shining pearls should be cast out in the mire / While worthless fish-eye stones are treasured in a strong-box", and describes a flying chariot, "Fringed with the dusky Moon Bright pearls " (tr. Hawkes 1985: 277, 295, 290). King
1521:. One luminous gem "remarkable for its brilliancy and beauty" supposedly "grew on the head of a monʃtrous ʃerpent" that was guarded by many snakes. The medicine man hid this luminous gemstone, and no one else had seen it. Timberlake supposed he had "hatched the account of its difcovery" (1765: 48–49). Ball doubts the myth and suggests "European influence" (1938: 503).
466:
116:
648:
25:
842:, "lamp; light") (Schafer 1963: 237). "From this stone flashes a great light in the night-time, so that the whole temple gleams brightly as by the light of myriads of candles, but in the daytime the brightness grows faint; the gem has the likeness of a bright fire" (tr. Strong and Garstang 1913: 72). According to Pliny, the stone is called
1390:, "Its huge white waves looked like clouds; its gems looked like stars; its crystals looked like the Moon; and its long bright serpents bearing gems in their hoods looked like comets and thus the whole sea looked like the sky." Another context says black glossy pearls are also produced in the heads of serpents related to the
1454:(c. 3 BCE – 97 CE), says that in India, people will kill a mountain dragon and cut off its head, in which, "are stones of rich lustre, emitting every-coloured rays and of occult virtue." It also mentions a myth that cranes will not build their nests until they have affixed a "light-stone" (Ancient Greek
1964:
Bardus. Adrian falls into a pit that had already captured an ape and a serpent, and promises to give half his wealth to Bardus for pulling him out. After Bardus rescues the three, out of gratitude the ape piled up firewood for him and the serpent gave him "a stone more bright than cristall out of his
1900:
Kuai Shen was the most filial son to his mother. Once a black crane was injured by a bow hunter and in its extremity, went to Kuai. The latter took it in, doctored its wound, and when it was cured set it free. Soon afterwards the crane showed up again outside Kuai's door. The latter shone a torch to
1877:
When Prince Chao of Yen was once seated on a terrace, black birds with white heads flocked there together, holding in their beaks perfectly resplendent pearls, measuring one foot all round. These pearls were black as lacquer, and emitted light in the interior of a house to such a degree that even the
1909:
Once upon a time, when the ruler of the old Sui kingdom was journeying, he came upon a great wounded serpent whose back was broken. The ruler believed the creature to be a spirit manifestation and ordered his physician to treat it with drugs to close up its wound. Thereafter the serpent was able to
1776:
alludes to the marquis's pearl. "Whenever the sage makes a movement, he is certain to examine what his purpose is and what he is doing. If now, however, we suppose that there were a man who shot at a sparrow a thousand yards away with the pearl of the
Marquis of Sui, the world would certainly laugh
1696:
These animal-gratitude stories are first recorded around two millennia ago in China and Rome. Based upon striking coincidences in
Chinese and Roman versions of the story, Laufer reasoned that there was an obvious historical connection (1915: 59–60), and Ball believes these tales probably originated
1006:
in the 6th century and thereafter described by many travelers, the latest of the 17th century. According to
Indicopleustes, it was "as large as a great pine-cone, fiery red, and when seen flashing from a distance, especially if the sun's rays are playing around it, being a matchless sight" (Laufer
687:
analyzed stories about luminous stones and pearls and found about one hundred variants in ancient, medieval, and modern sources. The wide-ranging locations of the tales comprise all Asia (except
Siberia), all Europe (except Norway and Russia), Borneo, New Guinea, the United States, Canada, certain
1536:
says he heard that the dragons of India Tertia (Eastern
African, south of Abyssinia) have on their heads "the lustrous stones which we call carbuncles." When they become too large to fly, they fall and die in a "certain river which issues from Paradise". After seventy days the people recover the
1914:
Laufer concludes that the "coincidences in these three
Chinese versions and the story of the Greek author, even in unimportant details such as the thankful bird returning after one year to the marquis of Sui, are so striking, that an historical connection between the two is obvious" (1915: 60).
1618:
story about a wolf-like creature with a luminous gem. "The Negros told us of a strange beast (which the interpreter called a
Carbuncle) oft seene yet only by night, having a stone in his forehead, incredibly shining and giving him light to feed, attentive to the least noyse, which he no sooner
987:
dragon is a symbol of clouds and rainstorms, and when it plays with a ball or pearl, this signifies the swallowing of the moon by the clouds or thunder in the clouds. The moon frequently appears as a pearl, and thus the dragon with the pearl is equal to the clouds with the moon. The pearl-moon
367:
recorded seeing chlorophane pebbles that shone with brilliancy all night long, merely from exposure to the sun's heat. For luminous gem myths, Ball concludes that while it is "not impossible that the inventors of certain of the tales may have been acquainted with the luminosity of gems, in my
1556:, the Flambeau of the Night because of the property and Quality it has of enlightening all things round it", and "They tell you that the Carbuncle was bred within the Head of a Dragon, a Griffin, or a Royal Eagle, which was found upon the Mountain of Caf" (Chardin 2010: 166–167).
906:, "Even a state as small as mine still has ten pearls one inch in diameter that cast radiance over twelve carriages in front and behind them." (tr. Sawyer 2018: n.p.). In the biography of the Han court minister Zou Yang (鄒陽, fl. 150 BCE), he figuratively uses the terms
1490:
select a queen who destroys invading armies of foreign serpents, and carries in her mouth a "wonderful stone, the Hul, or stone of light, which upon certain nights she tosses in the air, when it shines as the sun. Happy the man who shall catch the stone ere it falls."
390:(d. 341 BCE) on Cyprus, were fluorite, even though the Hellenistic alchemists had methods, "seemingly magical, of making night-shining gems by the application of phosphorescent paints to stones", the most famous being their "emeralds" and "carbuncles" (1963: 238).
1892:("In Search of the Supernatural") has two grateful-animal stories involving luminous pearls/gems. The first involves a black crane; according to legend, when a crane has lived a thousand years it turns blue; after another thousand it becomes black and is called a
1676:
In contrast to the above legends about people killing snakes and animals in order to obtain their luminous gems, another group of legends has a theme of injured animals presenting magical gems out of gratitude to people who helped them. This is a subcategory of
1364:, or light reflected by a serpent's eye, or the flame color of certain snakes' lips. In only a relative few of these legends is the stone luminous, this variant being known in India, Ceylon, ancient Greece, Armenia, and among Cherokee Indians (Ball 1938: 502).
918:") to illustrate how talented people are lost for lack of recommendations, "If I were to throw a luminous moon pearl or a night shining jade-disk on a dark road in front of someone, who would not grasp their sword and look startled?" The German sinologist
351:(aka pyroemerald and cobra stone), may become very faintly luminescent simply from the heat of one's hand. Chlorophane is unusual for combining the properties of thermoluminescence, triboluminescence, phosphorescence, and fluorescence; it will emit
1149:), Italy, and in 1473 the ring was transferred to the Franciscan monastery in that city. One of the monks stole it and fled into the night, but when he repented and promised to return it, the ring emitted a bright light by which he traveled to
1325:, where "the gold grows like herbs. In the night its brightness is seen when a mark is made with dust or lime. They then come in the morning and gather the herbs upon which the gold is found" (tr. Benisch and Ainsworth 1856: 51, 53).
994:
includes a number of references to luminous gems. For example, the first century Rabbi, Rav Huna, says he was fleeing from Roman soldiers and hid in a cave illuminated by a light that was brighter in the night and darker in the day.
1241:
that describes finding carbuncles in the daytime, some kinds "doe glitter and shine of their owne nature: by reason whereof, they are discovered soone wheresoever they lie, by the reverberation of the Sun-beams" (Harvey 1957: 34).
1429:
is fleeing from a jungle wildfire, he hears a voice asking for help and turns back to see a snake "having his head encircled with the rays of the jewels of his crest", who, after being rescued reveals himself to be the nāgarāja
1806:
artifact, and "Mr. He" was Bian He (卞和), who found a marvelous piece of raw jade that went cruelly unrecognized by successive Chu monarchs until it was finally acknowledged as a priceless jewel. The c. 3rd–1st century BCE
1750:(c. 475–221 BCE) texts mention Marquis Sui's pearl as a metaphor for something important or valuable, but without explaining the grateful snake tale, which implies that it was common knowledge among contemporary readers.
688:
South
American countries and Abyssinia, French Congo, and Angola in Africa. The later African and American myths were likely introduced by Europeans. Ball divides legends about luminous gems into three principal themes:
131:
344:" (Latin for "flowing emerald/beryl/jasper") in a pan of coals and afterwards "putting it in a dark place (it) shines very much: At the same time several other stones were tried but did not shine" (1732 6: 718).
1718:(隨侯珠, "the Marquis of Sui's pearl") legend that a year after he saved the life of a wounded snake, it returned and gave him a fabulous pearl that emitted a light as bright as that of the moon (Ball 1938: 504).
1313:. Khotan's rivers were famous for their jade, "which was discovered by its shining in the water at night", and divers would procure it in shallow waters after the snowmelt floods had subsided (1875: 113). The
1356:
The third luminous-gem theme involves serpents (of Hindu origin), or small animals (Spanish), with gems in their heads, or grateful animals repaying human kindness (Chinese and Roman) (Ball 1938: 501–505).
591:
1777:
at him. Why is this? It is because what he uses is important and what he wants is insignificant. And is not life much more important than the pearl of the
Marquis of Sui?" (tr. Mair 1994: 288).
186:, which is light emitted by a substance as a result of heating. Luminescence is caused by the absorption of energy that is released in small amounts. When the energy comes from light or other
1569:
once speared a fish, "in whose bowels was found a white stone so brilliant that everyone believed it was a lamp. Alexander set it in gold, and used it as a lamp at night" (Laufer 1915: 58).
2053:
Travels of Rabbi Petachia of Ratisbon: who, in the latter end of the twelfth century, visited Poland, Russia, Little Tartary, the Crimea, Armenia, Assyria, Syria, the Holy Land, and Greece
2105:
Handbook of Fluorescent Gems and Minerals – An Exposition and Catalog of the Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Gems and Minerals, Including the Use of Ultraviolet Light in the Earth Sciences
1965:
mouth", but Adrian refuses to pay his debt. Bardus sells the luminous gem for gold and afterwards found it again in his purse, and the same thing happened every time he sold it. Emperor
1360:
Legends about snakes that carry a marvelous jewel either in their forehead or in their mouth are found almost worldwide. Scholars have suggested that the myth may have originated with
1164:(1491–1544) relates the history of a luminous "chrysolampis" (χρυσόλαμπις, "gold-gleaming") gem set on a golden tablet with other valuable gemstones. Around 975, Hildegard, wife of
1559:
Like Chardin's griffin or eagle, some stories about luminous gems involve animals other than snakes and dragons. An early example is the 3rd-century CE Greek Pseudo-Callisthenes
1176:, where the saint's body reposed. Alardus tells us that the "chrysolampis" "shone so brightly that when the monks were called to the chapel in the nighttime, they could read the
2028:
Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum: containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English philosophers, who have written the hermetique mysteries in their owne ancient language
409:(from Greek Πυρωπός, lit. "fire-eyed")" as: "In early use applied vaguely to a red or fiery gem, as ruby or carbuncle; (mineralogy) the Bohemian garnet or fire-garnet"; and
2147:
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873, Under Command of Sir T. D. Forsyth: With Historical and Geographical Information Regarding the Possessions of the Ameer of Yarkund
1083:
describes "sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass", being touched by God's hand so that they might "shine forth in darkness." The
479:
46:
1297:
states that the diamond ("carbuncle") is not to be found in the day but only at night, which may imply that it emits light (Laufer 1915:62). The Anglo-Indian diplomat
1063:
that "shone more brightly by night than by day, thus serving to distinguish day and night when the sun and moon were shrouded by dense cloud." (Harvey 1957: 15). The
725:("Endless"), "has a thousand heads adorned with the mystical Swastika and in each head a jewel to give light" (Ball 1938: 498). The c. 400 BCE – 300 CE Hindu classic
2052:
134:
1831:), "It is like the pearl of Marquis Sui or the jade disk of Mr. He. Those who achieved it became rich; those who lost it became poor" (tr. Major et al. 2010: 218).
379:), which classical and medieval mineralogists did not differentiate, and less commonly other gems, including diamonds, emeralds, jade, and pearls (Ball 1938: 497).
138:
137:
133:
132:
139:
1980:(1563), who, having been told by a jeweler of a luminous carbuncle, doubted its existence. In the East, the first recorded skeptic was the Chinese encyclopedist
1235:
Second, there are stories about miners finding luminous gems at night and extracting them by day (Ball 1938: 500–501). One notable exception is Pliny's c. 77 CE
1603:
snake called "Of the shadow, or Canopie, because it hath a skinne on the head wherewith it covereth a very precious stone, which they say it hath in her head" (
1044:
The English alchemist John Norton wrote a 1470 poem entitled "Ordinal, or a manual of the chemical art", in which he proposed erecting a gold bridge over the
1901:
see out and discovered its mate there too. Each of them held a single night-glowing pearl in its beak to repay Kuai. (tr. DeWoskin and Crump 1996: 238).
707:
In India, the earliest country in which fine gemstones were known, belief in luminous gems dates back some twenty-five centuries. The c. 700 BCE – 300 CE
1682:
1678:
275:" ("lunar stone"), because, like the moon, it gave out in the darkness the light it received from the sun (Kunz 1913: 168). In 1735, the French chemist
1021:, "Its magical brilliance illumines the whole heaven. In the calm of a clear and cloudless night it can be seen by all, even at a distance of a myriad
1013:
386:
proposes that the phosphorescent "emeralds" of classical antiquity, such as the brilliantly shining green eyes of the marble lion on the tomb of King
229:, who wrote an article on "Luminous Gems, Mythical and Real", outlined the history of discoveries about luminescent and phosphorescent minerals. Most
1976:
Some scholars were skeptical about luminous gem stories. In the West, the earliest nonbeliever was the Portuguese traveler to India and gem expert,
276:
371:
Scholars have proposed many identifications for myths about luminous gemstones described for over two thousand years. Most frequently rubies or
136:
99:
in mythology and history among Asian, European, African, and American cultures. Some stories about light-emitting gems may have been based on
1118:
of Denmark conquered Gotland, but his rich booty, including the marvelous garnets, sank in the ocean when the king's ship was wrecked on the
1938:
he may have heard it in the East, as similar stories, but without the stone being luminous, occur in two Indian collections, the c. 300 BCE
1153:. The two cities fought fiercely for the possession of this sacred ring, but in 1486 the Vatican decreed the relic should be placed in the
988:
relationship is expressed in the Chinese belief that at full moon pearls are solid balls and at new moon they are hollow (1968: 239, 382).
739:'s palace with its precious stones that "shone like lamps so that there was no need for any other light in the assembly." In the c. 100 CE
776:, "green gems including emerald") that "shone brightly at night" (Harvey 1957: 33, suggesting the phosphorescent "false emerald" type of
521:
1619:
heareth, but he presently covereth the same with a filme or skinne given him as a naturall covering that his splendour betray him not" (
233:
are triboluminescent if rubbed with a cloth, and a few are photoluminescent after exposure to direct sunlight. Both diamonds and white
135:
1969:
summons Bardus, listens to his testimony supported by the magically reappearing gem, and compels Adrian to fulfill his promise (tr.
1658:
1133:'s wedding ring, which according to different accounts had an onyx, amethyst, or green jasper, was supposedly brought back from the
78:
1918:
A later elaboration of animal-gratitude stories involves grateful animals and ungrateful people, who are typically rescued from a
1380:
1180:
without any other light"; however, this brilliant gem was stolen by one of the monks and thrown into the sea (Kunz 1913: 164).
162:
that can glow when exposed to light, friction, or heat. Note that the following discussion will omit modern techniques such as
2307:
1552:
wrote that the Egyptian carbuncle was "very probably only an Oriental Ruby of higher Colour than usual." The Persians call it
1087:
placed a stone fore and aft on each ship and had "light continually" during their 344-day voyage to America (Ball 1938: 500).
355:
light when rubbed, or exposed to light or heat, and can continue emitting for a long period of time. Among the gravels of the
328:
1984:, who in 1628 wrote "it is not true that there are pearls emitting light at the hour of the dusk or night" (Ball 1938: 505).
1461:
1090:
The theme of luminous gems guiding mariners and others originated in Europe in the Middle Ages. The earliest is probably the
862:
1114:. Sagas say the two gems shone at night as brightly as did the sun at noon and guided mariners safely to port. In 1361 King
1572:
Sydney H. Ball recounts the widespread variation of the animal-gratitude snake story involving a wild animal (often called
773:
2419:
1472:
1395:
1439:
2393:
846:
because its luster is heightened by the light of a lamp, when its tints are particularly pleasing (Laufer 1915: 58).
1273:
780:). Ball says that the "wily priests doubtless enclosed a lamp in hollow green glass, to mislead the credulous". The
241:. The phosphorescent quality of diamonds when heated by sunlight is usually believed to have been first revealed by
2310:(1732), "An Account of a Journey made through Part of the Low Countries, Germany, Italy, and France about 1663-5,"
1970:
1476:
493:
2276:
Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas his Pilgrimes, contayning a History of the World in Sea Voyages and Lande Travells
853:(770–256 BCE) refer to luminous gems (e.g., "the Marquis of Sui's pearl" discussed below under grateful animals),
2197:
Chau Ju-kua: His Work On The Chinese And Arab Trade In The Twelfth And Thirteenth Centuries, Entitled Chu-fan-chï
1754:
1165:
219:
187:
2002:, Buddhist metaphor of a vast net with a jewel or pearl at each knot, infinitely reflecting all the other jewels
1763:("Strategies of the Warring States") compendium of political and military anecdotes dating from 490 to 221 BCE.
1266:
1654:
1642:
1611:
60:
1661:
cites von Tschudi and describes the carbunculo as a cat with a blood-red jewel, which is supposed to dwell on
1291:
The theme of locating luminous gems at night is found in other sources. The c. 125 CE didactic Christian text
2362:
Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests
2301:
The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian in Fifteen Books to which are added the Fragments of Diodorus
1318:
1310:
1262:
1237:
202:
when the glow continues beyond the period of excitation. Two types of luminescent phenomena are relevant to
1700:
577:
451:
1298:
1055:
Boats lit by luminous gems are a variant of the illumination idea. Rabbinic Judaism had a tradition that "
871:
684:
816:
as an eastern gem, "pale by day but of a fiery luster by night" (Ball 1938: 499). The Syrian rhetorician
2381:
2325:
1747:
1739:
1708:
1506:
1492:
1285:
1003:
689:
680:
429:
288:
96:
1865:(d. 390 CE) from early apocryphal versions of Chinese history, recounts an anecdote about King Zhao of
1332:
to locate ores that respond with color-specific fluorescence. For instance, under short-wave UV light,
1855:
Laufer cites three c. 4th-century Chinese grateful-animal stories that parallel Heraclea's stork. The
1588:) with a luminous gem on its head, and which Europeans apparently introduced into Africa and America.
839:
1931:
1596:
1328:
A modern parallel to ancient miners seeking luminous gems at nighttime is mineworkers using portable
1161:
850:
785:
372:
250:
175:
2361:
1048:
and illuminating it with carbuncles set on golden pinnacles, "A glorious thing for men to beholde" (
335:, France, a "counterfeiter" of "amethysts, topazes, emeralds, and sapphires" found that on heating "
1764:
1566:
1451:
1422:
1184:
895:
753:
549:
387:
941:
797:
749:
is said to have gems so bright "that darkness like poverty could find no place" (Ball 1938: 499).
661:
56:
2424:
2414:
2275:
1518:
1169:
1074:
825:
393:
The names of some luminescent gemstones etymologically derive from "glow" or "fire" words (e.g.,
226:
215:
119:
2352:
2232:
2187:
619:
1827:("Philosophers of Huainan") uses the story to describe one who has attained the Way of Heaven (
1269:
1209:
633:
507:
2409:
2375:
2223:
1956:
1862:
1841:
1836:
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1306:
1154:
1091:
805:
383:
207:
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167:
143:
2300:
2027:
971:"held in its mouth and dropped. They light the entire house at night" (tr. Laufer 1912: 64).
535:
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33:
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2180:
Through the Jade Gate – China to Rome (A Study of the Silk Routes 1st to 2nd Centuries CE)
2126:
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1686:
1620:
1277:
1224:
1203:
1119:
976:
903:
809:
781:
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2394:"Mens PumpUp" Maintain and Stimulate Glow-in-The-Dark Pearl-Beaded Prolonging Rubber Ring
2343:
1368:
605:
2164:
The Songs of the South: An Anthology of Ancient Chinese Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets
1321:(d. c. 1225) adapted Strabo's story for the gold he saw in the land of Ishmael, east of
1999:
1977:
1604:
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1403:
1391:
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in 1663, who also found that some diamonds will luminesce under pressure. According to
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39:
2172:
Transcaucasia, sketches of the nations and races between the Black sea and the Caspian
2403:
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2155:
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1714:
The earliest known story about a grateful animal with a luminous gem is the Chinese
1940:
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2268:
The Huainanzi: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Government in Early Han China
2104:
979:
or gem under their chin or in their claws. According to the German anthropologist
647:
340:
2291:
2241:
2214:
2205:
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2146:
2079:
2070:
2061:
760:(c. 484–425 BCE) was the first European to describe luminous gems. The temple of
2386:
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1966:
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on ships, or sometimes as guiding lights for lost persons (Ball 1938: 498–500).
457:
364:
360:
348:
332:
218:
re-emits previously absorbed electromagnetic radiation upon being heated (e.g.,
203:
123:
100:
2196:
295:, in 1792, found phosphoresce from rubbing together two pieces of quartz or of
2005:
1951:
1888:
1878:
spirits could not obscure their supernatural essence." (tr. Laufer 1915: 59).
1578:
1542:
1456:
1111:
1038:
1028:
952:
700:
The first theme is using legendary luminous gems to illuminate buildings, for
667:
316:
268:), which was discovered by Vincenzo Cascariolo in 1602, was sometimes called "
1993:
1922:(Ashliman 2010). Two versions mention marvelous gems. The English historian
1857:
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2019:
1905:
The second story is oldest detailed explanation of Marquis of Sui's pearl.
1425:, "gem; jewel; pearl") on a snake's head. When the Hindu mythological king
834:
272:
115:
2080:
A Group of Eastern Romances and Stories from the Persian, Tamil, and Urdu
1961:
1935:
1631:
1548:
After his third visit to Persia in 1686, the French jeweler and traveler
1399:
1337:
1008:
967:
761:
639:
513:
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324:
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238:
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722:
2284:
The History of the Caribby Islands Rendered into English by John Davies
1883:
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1483:
1444:
1387:
1376:
1322:
1314:
1281:
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1199:
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1103:
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that illuminates Noah's Ark (Genesis 6:16) as a luminous gemstone (the
732:
583:
569:
485:
471:
284:
2266:
Major, John S., Sarah Queen, Andrew Meyer, and Harold D. Roth (2010),
879:
269:
214:
in a material when it is rubbed, pulled apart, scratched, or crushed.
1818:
1468:
1384:
1250:
1146:
1002:'s luminous carbuncle or ruby, first mentioned by the Greek traveler
829:
817:
746:
718:
714:
611:
597:
541:
443:
405:
376:
265:
257:(r. 1010–1055) knew that diamonds can phosphoresce (Ball 1938: 496).
170:
that are too recent to have influenced folklore about luminous gems.
163:
147:
1626:
In 1666, another version of the theme is a huge snake recorded from
800:, "star") gem is found, "which flames in the dark", and thus called
1809:
1731:
1699:
1537:"carbuncle which is rooted in the top of his head" and take it to
1460:, "shining") to help the eggs hatch and to drive away snakes (tr.
1223:
1208:
1194:
1126:
1095:
940:
866:
has two early references to using them as a source of light. Most
653:
296:
254:
234:
179:
129:
114:
1861:("Researches into Lost Records"), compiled by the Daoist scholar
2071:
Popular Tales and Fictions: Their Migrations and Transformations
1840:("On the Characteristics of Animals"), compiled by Roman author
1646:
1600:
1426:
1345:
1302:
1056:
625:
368:
opinion many of the tales must be of other origin" (1938: 497).
300:
1844:, told the story of Heraclea or Herakleis, a virtuous widow of
1788:("the Marquis of Sui's pearl") with another priceless gem, the
934:("moon-beloved") gem that contains condensed moonlight and the
2194:
Hirth, Friedrich and William Woodville Rockhill, trs. (1911),
1265:(r. 285–246 BCE) on the barren, forbidden island of Ophiodes (
399:
182:
by a substance not resulting from heat, as distinguished from
18:
2224:
Natural History of Precious Stones and of the Precious Metals
998:
The best documented of the illumination tales is that of the
2034:
Ball, Sydney H. (1938), "Luminous Gems, Mythical and Real",
2156:
A History of Luminescence from the Earliest Time until 1900
1960:
tells the story of the rich Roman lord Adrian and the poor
2257:
Lucian, tr. by Herbert A. Strong and John Garstang (1913)
2111:
DeWoskin, Kenneth J. and James Irving Crump, trs. (1996),
1996:, a wish-fulfilling jewel in Hindu and Buddhist traditions
2250:
The Diamond, a Study in Chinese and Hellenistic Folk-lore
1513:("conjurers") using gemstones, which is a variant of the
1041:
called it "The Red Palace Illuminator" (Ball 1938: 499).
820:(c. 125–180 CE) describes a statue of the Syrian goddess
198:
when the glow ceases immediately with the excitation and
2382:
World's largest night-shining jewel displayed in S China
2335:
The Geography of Strabo, Literally Translated with Notes
2298:
Siculus, Diodorus, tr. by C.H. Oldfather et al. (1814),
2253:, Field Museum of Natural History Publication 184, 15.1.
51:
2245:, Field Museum of Natural History Publication 154, 10.
2008:, various legendary jewels mentioned in Buddhist texts
784:"On Rivers", probably written by the Greek grammarian
2332:
Strabo, tr. by H.C. Hamilton and W. Falconer (1889),
245:(c. 1193–1280) and it was apparently rediscovered by
2169:
von Haxthausen, August ranz L.M. Haxthausen (1854),
1486:"The Queen of the Serpents" legend, the serpents of
965:(雷珠, "thunder pearls/beads") that the divine dragon
303:
gives "a beautiful red light of short continuance."
1409:The "Snake Jewel" story in Somadeva's 11th-century
307:reported in 1861 that ruby fluoresces better than
2242:Jade, A Study in Chinese Archaeology and Religion
2113:In Search of the Supernatural: The Written Record
1110:with huge garnets in the center, overlooking the
938:("moon-jewel") name for emerald (1931: 168–169).
768:had two great columns, one of gold, the other of
2206:The Bṛihat Saṃhitâ of Varaha Mihira, Volumes 1–2
1415:("Ocean of the Streams of Stories") refers to a
692:, gem mining, and animals (Ball 1938: 497–498).
930:may have an Indian origin, with analogs in the
2365:, tr. by Thomasina Ross, A.S. Barnes & Co.
1869:(燕昭王, r. 311–279 BCE) and grateful birds with
331:(1641–1691) stated that one Monsieur Lort, of
327:or fluorspar. However, the English naturalist
2159:, American Philosophical Society Memoirs, 44.
2086:Conybeare, Frederick Cornwallis, tr. (1912),
2050:Benisch, A, and William F. Ainsworth (1856),
1245:In the 1st century BCE, the Greek historians
8:
2215:Mirabilia Descripta: The Wonders of the East
1375:encyclopedic work describes the bright star
894:(夜光珠, "night shining pearl"). The "House of
2020:The Grateful Animals and the Ungrateful Man
1309:sent a "splendid jade stone" as tribute to
1017:locates it in the Buddha Tooth Temple near
323:discovered the fluorescence of the mineral
154:First, it will be useful to introduce some
2135:The Local Cultures of South and East China
1591:In 1565, Don John Bermudez, ambassador of
1137:in 996 CE. It was placed in the Church of
948:plate with two dragons and a flaming pearl
2175:, tr. by J.E. Taylor, Chapman & Hall.
1014:Great Tang Records on the Western Regions
849:Although early Chinese classics from the
717:, in his avatar as the many-headed snake
79:Learn how and when to remove this message
2212:Jordanus, Friar, tr. Henry Yule (1863),
1007:1915: 62). The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim
347:Some fluorite, particularly the variety
210:generates light through the breaking of
16:Worldwide motif in mythology and history
1734:, was a lesser feudal state during the
1340:ore, fluoresces a bright sky-blue, and
419:
2182:, revised edition, 2 vols., BookSurge.
1657:1854: 320). The American archeologist
1301:says that in 632, the ancient Iranian
832:) with a gem on her head called Greek
1683:Aarne–Thompson classification systems
1541:, the Emperor of the Ethiopians (tr.
1348:, fluoresces green (Ball 1938: 501).
1106:, the Church of St. Nicholas had two
55:. Parenthetical referencing has been
7:
2077:Clouston, William Alexander (1889),
2068:Clouston, William Alexander (1887),
2062:Sir John Chardin's Travels in Persia
1770:The c. 3rd–1st centuries BCE Daoist
1707:jade-disk with a dual dragon motif,
1383:) in Sanskrit, also the name of the
1077:translates as 'window'). The Mormon
882:, "pearl; gem; bead; orb"), such as
277:Charles François de Cisternay du Fay
2233:The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
1950:(Ball 1938: 505). The English poet
898:" history records that in 379 BCE,
2359:von Tschudi, Johann Jakob (1854),
2353:Memoirs of Lieut. Henry Timberlake
2326:Aelian, Characteristics of Animals
2203:Iyer, N. Chidambaram, tr. (1884),
2108:, Mineralogist Publishing Company.
2095:Crump, James I., Jr., tr. (1970),
2047:, The Hispanic Society of America.
910:(明月之珠, "luminous moon pearl") and
890:(明月珠, "luminous moon pearl"), and
870:names for shining pearls/gems are
679:Luminous gems are common theme in
363:, Russia, the German mineralogist
14:
2320:, University of California Press.
2200:, Imperial Academy of Sciences.––
2044:The islands of Titicaca and Koati
1659:Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier
922:suggested that the Chinese names
808:(King 1867: 9). The Roman author
237:may phosphoresce if heated below
2144:Forsyth, Thomas Douglas (1875),
1641:According to the Swiss explorer
1168:, dedicated the tablet to Saint
660:
646:
632:
618:
604:
590:
576:
562:
548:
534:
520:
506:
492:
478:
464:
450:
436:
422:
23:
2318:The Golden Peaches of Samarkand
2230:Kunz, George Frederick (1913),
2089:The Life of Appolonius of Tyana
1873:(洞光珠, "cave shining pearls").
975:are frequently depicted with a
886:(夜明珠, "night luminous pearl"),
788:(d. 14 CE), states that in the
397:for "chlorophane" above). The
2341:Tawney, Charles Henry (1928),
2323:Scholfield, A. F. tr. (1959),
2221:King, Charles William (1867),
1738:(c. 1046 BCE – 256 BCE) and a
1501:, the British emissary to the
863:Records of the Grand Historian
1:
2282:de Rochefort, Charles (1666)
2074:, William Blackwood and Sons.
2041:Bendelier, Adolph F. (1910),
1102:city Visby, on the island of
194:; which is divisible between
2347:, 10 vols., Chas. J. Sawyer.
2270:, Columbia University Press.
2139:Lokalkulturen im alten China
2115:, Stanford University Press.
2059:Chardin, John (1720, 2010),
2022:", University of Pittsburgh.
1059:had a luminous stone in the
731:tells the story of the five
2329:, Harvard University Press.
2316:Schafer, Edward H. (1963),
2227:, Deighton, Bell, & Co.
2150:, Foreign Department Press.
1697:independently (1938: 504).
1440:Life of Apollonius of Tyana
1330:shortwave ultraviolet lamps
1253:(c. 63–24) both record the
107:minerals such as diamonds.
2441:
2350:Timberlake, Henry (1765),
2248:Laufer, Berthold (1915), "
2188:China and the Roman Orient
2153:Harvey, E. Newton (1957),
2133:Eberhard, Wolfram (1968),
1726:), located in present-day
1434:(tr. Tawney 1928 4: 245).
1406:(tr. Iyer 1884: 77, 179).
1122:islands (Ball 1938: 500).
146:from rubbing together two
2292:Sun Pin: Military Methods
2289:Sawyer, Ralph D. (2018),
2239:Laufer, Berthold (1912),
2185:Hirth, Friedrich (1875),
2118:Dickens, Charles (1857),
2018:Ashliman, D. L. (2010), "
1272:, "Snakey") or Topazios (
1166:Dirk II, Count of Holland
812:(23–79 CE) described the
220:thermoluminescence dating
188:electromagnetic radiation
2273:Purchas, Samuel (1625),
2236:, B. Lippincott Company.
1643:Johann Jakob von Tschudi
1509:, records a story about
1261:) mine of Egyptian king
382:The American sinologist
315:fluoresces, and crushed
126:specimens on a hotplate.
111:Mineralogical luminosity
95:are an almost worldwide
2191:, Ares Publishers 1975.
2065:, Cosimo, Inc. reprint.
2025:Ashmole, Elias (1652),
1882:The imperial historian
1614:reported around 1608 a
1319:Petachiah of Regensburg
1311:Emperor Taizong of Tang
1263:Ptolemy II Philadelphus
1231:under ultraviolet light
961:pharmacopeia describes
675:Mythological luminosity
225:The American geologist
190:, it is referred to as
2378:, The Gemology Project
2162:Hawkes, David (1985),
2137:, Alide Eberhard, tr.
2102:De Ment, Jack (1949),
2036:The Scientific Monthly
1912:
1903:
1880:
1802:is a type of circular
1755:Marquis of Sui's pearl
1711:
1645:, in the highlands of
1299:Thomas Douglas Forsyth
1232:
1221:
1206:
949:
914:(夜光之壁, "night shining
756:, the Greek historian
735:brothers and the raja
151:
127:
32:This article includes
2338:, G. Bell & sons.
2209:, South Indian Press.
1944:and the 11th-century
1907:
1898:
1875:
1748:Warring States period
1709:Warring States period
1703:
1610:The English merchant
1599:, described an Upper
1507:Timberlake Expedition
1505:during the 1761–1762
1286:Berenice Troglodytica
1227:
1212:
1198:
1004:Cosmas Indicopleustes
944:
681:comparative mythology
319:will flame. In 1833,
299:, and wrote that the
142:
118:
2420:Luminescent minerals
2312:Churchill's Voyages,
2092:, William Heinemann.
2083:, W. Hodge & Co.
1932:Richard I of England
1896:(玄鶴. "dark crane").
1757:is mentioned in the
1679:The Grateful Animals
1597:John III of Portugal
1562:Romance of Alexander
1473:The Rose of Bakáwalí
1172:and presented it to
1162:Alardus of Amsterdam
1027:." The Song Scholar
851:Eastern Zhou dynasty
804:(the "King") in the
786:Parthenius of Nicaea
696:Light source legends
251:Prafulla Chandra Ray
176:spontaneous emission
2263:, Constable and Co.
2178:Hill, John (2015),
2141:, 1943, E.J. Brill.
2056:, Trubner & Co.
1837:De Natura Animalium
1784:pair the legendary
1765:King Wuling of Zhao
1685:554), for example,
1567:Alexander the Great
1452:Apollonius of Tyana
1437:The 3rd-century CE
1367:The Hindu polymath
1276:, "Topaz"), modern
1185:Marcellin Berthelot
1183:The French chemist
754:Classical antiquity
388:Hermias of Atarneus
61:shortened footnotes
2390:, 22 November 2010
2344:The Ocean of Story
2279:, James MacLehose.
2260:The Syrian Goddess
2218:, Hakluyt Society.
2099:, Clarendon Press.
1973:1887 1: 224–226).
1712:
1519:Iroquois mythology
1398:, "dragon kings")
1280:, off the ancient
1233:
1222:
1207:
1191:Gem mining legends
1170:Adalbert of Egmond
1160:The Dutch scholar
1157:(Ball 1938: 500).
1075:King James Version
950:
826:Hierapolis Bambyce
291:were luminescent.
253:, the Indian king
227:Sydney Hobart Ball
216:Thermoluminescence
152:
128:
120:Thermoluminescence
93:luminous gemstones
40:properly formatted
1957:Confessio Amantis
1842:Claudius Aelianus
1630:on the island of
1503:Overhill Cherokee
1464:1912: 103, 155).
1379:, named Agastya (
1344:, a minor ore of
1307:Kingdom of Khotan
1155:Perugia Cathedral
1092:Scandinavian saga
806:Phrygian language
702:navigation lights
384:Edward H. Schafer
208:Triboluminescence
192:photoluminescence
168:ultraviolet light
144:Triboluminescence
140:
89:
88:
81:
2432:
2166:, Penguin Books.
1947:Kathasaritsagara
1941:Kalila wa Dimnah
1852:1959: 209–210).
1782:Chinese classics
1681:folktale motif (
1499:Henry Timberlake
1479:1889: 296–297).
1450:'s biography of
1412:Kathasaritsagara
1247:Diodorus Siculus
1098:garnets. In the
992:Rabbinic Judaism
981:Wolfram Eberhard
685:cross-culturally
664:
650:
636:
622:
608:
594:
580:
566:
552:
538:
524:
510:
496:
482:
468:
454:
440:
426:
353:visible spectrum
305:Edmond Becquerel
279:determined that
260:The luminescent
158:terminology for
141:
91:Folktales about
84:
77:
73:
70:
64:
54:
49:this article by
34:inline citations
27:
26:
19:
2440:
2439:
2435:
2434:
2433:
2431:
2430:
2429:
2400:
2399:
2372:
2308:Skippon, Philip
2304:, Edward Jones.
2127:Household Words
2015:
1990:
1687:The White Snake
1665:mountain, near
1607:1625 2: 1169).
1371:'s 6th century
1354:
1278:Zabargad Island
1249:(c. 90–30) and
1238:Natural History
1204:Zabargad Island
1193:
1120:Kong Karls Land
973:Chinese dragons
908:mingyue zhi zhu
904:King Hui of Wei
810:Pliny the Elder
782:Pseudo-Plutarch
721:under the name
698:
677:
670:
665:
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474:
469:
460:
455:
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441:
432:
427:
415:carbuncle-stone
293:Josiah Wedgwood
243:Albertus Magnus
200:phosphorescence
130:
113:
85:
74:
68:
65:
52:correcting them
50:
44:
28:
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2371:
2370:External links
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2038:47.6: 496–505.
2032:
2031:, Nath Brooks.
2023:
2014:
2011:
2010:
2009:
2003:
1997:
1989:
1986:
1978:Garcia de Orta
1834:The c. 222 CE
1821:'s c. 139 BCE
1515:Horned Serpent
1493:von Haxthausen
1353:
1352:Animal legends
1350:
1192:
1189:
1139:Santa Mustiola
1069:describes the
1066:Genesis Rabbah
1000:King of Ceylon
920:August Conrady
912:yeguang zhi bi
900:King Wei of Qi
896:Tian Jingzhong
745:, the city of
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329:Philip Skippon
321:David Brewster
212:chemical bonds
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105:phosphorescent
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2349:
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2345:
2340:
2337:
2336:
2331:
2328:
2327:
2322:
2319:
2315:
2313:
2309:
2306:
2303:
2302:
2297:
2294:
2293:
2288:
2285:
2281:
2278:
2277:
2272:
2269:
2265:
2262:
2261:
2256:
2254:
2251:
2247:
2244:
2243:
2238:
2235:
2234:
2229:
2226:
2225:
2220:
2217:
2216:
2211:
2208:
2207:
2202:
2199:
2198:
2193:
2190:
2189:
2184:
2181:
2177:
2174:
2173:
2168:
2165:
2161:
2158:
2157:
2152:
2149:
2148:
2143:
2140:
2136:
2132:
2129:
2128:
2123:
2122:
2117:
2114:
2110:
2107:
2106:
2101:
2098:
2097:Chan-kuo ts'e
2094:
2091:
2090:
2085:
2082:
2081:
2076:
2073:
2072:
2067:
2064:
2063:
2058:
2055:
2054:
2049:
2046:
2045:
2040:
2037:
2033:
2030:
2029:
2024:
2021:
2017:
2016:
2012:
2007:
2004:
2001:
1998:
1995:
1992:
1991:
1987:
1985:
1983:
1982:Song Yingxing
1979:
1974:
1972:
1968:
1963:
1959:
1958:
1953:
1949:
1948:
1943:
1942:
1937:
1933:
1929:
1925:
1924:Matthew Paris
1921:
1916:
1911:
1906:
1902:
1897:
1895:
1891:
1890:
1886:'s c. 350 CE
1885:
1879:
1874:
1872:
1868:
1864:
1860:
1859:
1853:
1851:
1847:
1843:
1839:
1838:
1832:
1830:
1826:
1825:
1820:
1816:
1812:
1811:
1805:
1801:
1800:
1795:
1794:Mr. He's jade
1791:
1787:
1783:
1778:
1775:
1774:
1768:
1766:
1762:
1761:
1756:
1751:
1749:
1745:
1741:
1737:
1733:
1729:
1725:
1721:
1717:
1710:
1706:
1702:
1698:
1694:
1692:
1691:The Queen Bee
1688:
1684:
1680:
1674:
1672:
1668:
1664:
1663:Nevado Sajama
1660:
1656:
1652:
1648:
1644:
1639:
1637:
1633:
1629:
1628:Island Caribs
1624:
1622:
1617:
1613:
1612:William Finch
1608:
1606:
1602:
1598:
1594:
1589:
1587:
1586:
1581:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1568:
1564:
1563:
1557:
1555:
1551:
1546:
1544:
1540:
1535:
1531:
1527:
1522:
1520:
1516:
1512:
1508:
1504:
1500:
1496:
1494:
1489:
1485:
1482:According to
1480:
1478:
1474:
1470:
1465:
1463:
1459:
1458:
1453:
1449:
1446:
1442:
1441:
1435:
1433:
1428:
1424:
1420:
1419:
1414:
1413:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1397:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1382:
1378:
1374:
1370:
1365:
1363:
1362:snake worship
1358:
1351:
1349:
1347:
1343:
1339:
1335:
1331:
1326:
1324:
1320:
1316:
1312:
1308:
1304:
1300:
1296:
1295:
1289:
1287:
1283:
1279:
1275:
1271:
1268:
1264:
1260:
1257:(gem-quality
1256:
1252:
1248:
1243:
1240:
1239:
1230:
1226:
1219:
1215:
1211:
1205:
1201:
1197:
1190:
1188:
1186:
1181:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1167:
1163:
1158:
1156:
1152:
1148:
1144:
1140:
1136:
1132:
1128:
1123:
1121:
1117:
1113:
1109:
1105:
1101:
1097:
1093:
1088:
1086:
1082:
1081:
1080:Book of Ether
1076:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1062:
1058:
1053:
1051:
1047:
1042:
1040:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1001:
996:
993:
989:
986:
982:
978:
977:flaming pearl
974:
970:
969:
964:
960:
959:
958:Bencao Gangmu
954:
947:
943:
939:
937:
933:
932:chandra-kânta
929:
925:
924:mingyuezhizhu
921:
917:
913:
909:
905:
901:
897:
893:
889:
885:
881:
877:
873:
869:
865:
864:
860:
857:'s c. 94 BCE
856:
852:
847:
845:
841:
837:
836:
831:
828:(present-day
827:
823:
819:
815:
811:
807:
803:
799:
795:
791:
790:Sakarya River
787:
783:
779:
775:
771:
767:
763:
759:
755:
750:
748:
744:
743:
738:
734:
730:
729:
724:
720:
716:
712:
711:
710:Vishnu Purana
705:
703:
695:
693:
691:
690:light sources
686:
682:
674:
669:
663:
658:
655:
649:
644:
641:
635:
630:
627:
621:
616:
613:
607:
602:
599:
593:
588:
585:
579:
574:
571:
565:
560:
557:
551:
546:
543:
537:
532:
529:
523:
518:
515:
509:
504:
501:
495:
490:
487:
481:
476:
473:
467:
462:
459:
453:
448:
445:
439:
434:
431:
425:
420:
418:
416:
412:
408:
407:
402:
401:
396:
391:
389:
385:
380:
378:
374:
369:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
345:
343:
342:
339:
334:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
271:
267:
263:
262:Bologna Stone
258:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
184:incandescence
181:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
156:mineralogical
149:
145:
125:
122:from heating
121:
117:
110:
108:
106:
102:
98:
94:
83:
80:
72:
62:
59:; convert to
58:
53:
48:
43:
41:
38:they are not
35:
30:
21:
20:
2385:
2376:Luminescence
2360:
2356:, J. Ridley.
2351:
2342:
2333:
2324:
2317:
2311:
2299:
2295:, Routledge.
2290:
2283:
2274:
2267:
2258:
2252:
2240:
2231:
2222:
2213:
2204:
2195:
2186:
2179:
2170:
2163:
2154:
2145:
2138:
2134:
2125:
2119:
2112:
2103:
2096:
2087:
2078:
2069:
2060:
2051:
2042:
2035:
2026:
1975:
1955:
1945:
1939:
1927:
1920:pitfall trap
1917:
1913:
1908:
1904:
1899:
1893:
1887:
1881:
1876:
1871:dongguangzhu
1870:
1856:
1854:
1835:
1833:
1822:
1808:
1804:Chinese jade
1797:
1789:
1785:
1779:
1771:
1769:
1758:
1752:
1740:vassal state
1736:Zhou dynasty
1715:
1713:
1695:
1675:
1640:
1625:
1623:1857: 124).
1616:Sierra Leone
1609:
1593:Prester John
1590:
1583:
1577:
1573:
1571:
1560:
1558:
1554:Icheb Chirac
1553:
1550:John Chardin
1547:
1539:Prester John
1533:
1523:
1511:medicine men
1497:
1495:1854: 355).
1488:Mount Ararat
1481:
1466:
1455:
1448:Philostratus
1443:, the Greek
1438:
1436:
1416:
1410:
1408:
1373:Brhat Samhit
1372:
1369:Varāhamihira
1366:
1359:
1355:
1327:
1292:
1290:
1244:
1236:
1234:
1182:
1174:Egmond Abbey
1159:
1124:
1108:rose windows
1089:
1078:
1070:
1064:
1054:
1046:River Thames
1043:
1032:
1022:
1019:Anuradhapura
1012:
997:
990:
984:
966:
962:
956:
951:
946:Qing dynasty
935:
931:
927:
923:
911:
907:
891:
887:
883:
875:
861:
848:
843:
833:
814:chrysolampis
813:
801:
793:
769:
751:
742:Buddhacarita
740:
726:
713:states that
708:
706:
699:
678:
556:Lapis lazuli
414:
410:
404:
398:
394:
392:
381:
370:
357:Irtysh River
346:
336:
281:lapis lazuli
259:
247:Robert Boyle
224:
196:fluorescence
172:Luminescence
153:
92:
90:
75:
69:October 2020
66:
37:
2387:China Daily
2000:Indra's net
1967:Justinian I
1926:'s c. 1195
1813:("Songs of
1724:Sui dynasty
1655:von Tschudi
1636:West Indies
1582:, or Latin
1545:1863: 42).
1532:'s c. 1330
1528:missionary
1294:Physiologus
1218:ultraviolet
1131:Virgin Mary
1116:Valdemar IV
1052:1652: 27).
1034:Zhu Fan Zhi
1031:'s c. 1225
902:boasted to
859:Han dynasty
737:Babruvahana
728:Mahabharata
458:Chlorophane
395:pyroemerald
375:(often red
365:Gustav Rose
361:Krasnoyarsk
349:chlorophane
333:Montpellier
206:materials.
204:crystalline
124:chlorophane
101:luminescent
2404:Categories
2013:References
2006:Mani Jewel
1962:woodcutter
1952:John Gower
1930:says that
1928:Chronicles
1889:Soushen Ji
1850:Scholfield
1760:Zhanguo ci
1746:. Several
1722:(隨, cf. 隋
1585:carbunculo
1576:, Spanish
1565:that says
1517:legend in
1112:Baltic Sea
1039:Marco Polo
1029:Zhao Rukuo
953:Li Shizhen
928:yeguangzhu
892:yèguāngzhū
888:míngyuèzhū
668:Tourmaline
430:Aquamarine
373:carbuncles
317:orthoclase
289:aquamarine
57:deprecated
2425:Mythology
2415:Gemstones
2286:, London.
1994:Cintamani
1824:Huainanzi
1786:Suihouzhu
1716:Suihouzhu
1579:carbunclo
1574:carbuncle
1534:Mirabilia
1471:tale of "
1462:Conybeare
1457:lychnidis
1432:Karkotaka
1342:willemite
1334:scheelite
1305:Buddhist
1229:Willemite
1214:Scheelite
1135:Holy Land
1100:Hanseatic
1085:Jaredites
936:harinmaṇi
916:jade-disk
884:yèmíngzhū
872:compounds
855:Sima Qian
822:Atargatis
778:fluorspar
774:σμάραγδος
770:smaragdos
758:Herodotus
528:Fosterite
411:carbuncle
160:gemstones
150:crystals.
2410:Folklore
2396:, Amazon
2130:vol. 15.
1988:See also
1971:Clouston
1954:'s 1390
1936:Crusades
1863:Wang Jia
1858:Shiyi ji
1846:Tarentum
1796:"). The
1780:Several
1773:Zhuangzi
1632:Dominica
1530:Jordanus
1484:Armenian
1477:Clouston
1400:Takshaka
1392:nāgarāja
1338:tungsten
1315:Bohemian
1274:Τοπάζιος
1145:(modern
1009:Xuanzang
968:shenlong
955:'s 1578
762:Heracles
640:Sapphire
514:Fluorite
500:Feldspar
403:defines
341:smaragdi
325:fluorite
313:feldspar
309:sapphire
264:(impure
239:red heat
231:diamonds
1884:Gan Bao
1792:(和氏璧, "
1790:Heshibi
1728:Suizhou
1671:Bolivia
1651:Bolivia
1621:Dickens
1605:Purchas
1526:Catalan
1469:Bengali
1467:In the
1445:sophist
1388:Agastya
1381:अगस्त्य
1377:Canopus
1323:Nineveh
1282:Red Sea
1267:Ὀφιώδης
1259:olivine
1255:peridot
1200:Peridot
1151:Perugia
1143:Clusium
1129:of the
1104:Gotland
1094:of the
1050:Ashmole
1011:'s 646
868:Chinese
844:lychnis
835:lychnis
733:Pandava
683:. Ball
584:Peridot
570:Olivine
486:Emerald
472:Diamond
377:garnets
359:, near
285:emerald
273:lunaris
47:improve
45:Please
2121:Wolves
1894:xuanhe
1819:Liu An
1404:Vasuki
1396:नागराज
1317:rabbi
1251:Strabo
1216:under
1147:Chiusi
983:, the
963:leizhu
840:λύχνος
830:Manbij
818:Lucian
802:Ballen
747:Kapila
723:Ananta
719:Shesha
715:Vishnu
612:Quartz
598:Pyrope
542:Garnet
444:Barite
406:pyrope
311:, red
287:, and
270:lapis
266:barite
164:X-rays
148:quartz
36:, but
1810:Chuci
1732:Hubei
1667:Oruro
1385:rishi
1284:port
1270:νήσος
1220:light
1202:from
1178:Hours
1127:relic
1096:Visby
1071:Tzoar
798:ἀστήρ
794:Aster
654:Topaz
338:fluor
297:agate
255:Bhoja
235:topaz
180:light
97:motif
1753:The
1649:and
1647:Peru
1601:Nile
1543:Yule
1524:The
1427:Nala
1418:maṇi
1402:and
1346:zinc
1336:, a
1303:Saka
1125:The
1057:Noah
985:long
926:and
792:the
766:Tyre
626:Ruby
301:ruby
166:and
103:and
1867:Yan
1815:Chu
1744:Chu
1742:of
1720:Sui
1689:or
1595:to
1423:मणि
1061:Ark
876:zhū
874:of
824:in
764:at
752:In
413:or
400:OED
222:).
178:of
174:is
2406::
2384:,
2124:,
1829:天道
1799:bi
1730:,
1705:Bi
1693:.
1669:,
1634:,
1141:,
1024:li
283:,
1491:(
1421:(
1394:(
880:珠
878:(
838:(
796:(
772:(
82:)
76:(
71:)
67:(
63:.
42:.
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