Dream of the Red Chamber, Volume 1

Referred to both as the stone and the jade, but more often as the jade, this is the magical rock that the fairy Disenchantment transforms and sends to Earth to work its magic among mortals. It arrives in Bao-yu’s mouth and indicates his special fate as a romantic with the potential for supreme goodness or supreme evil. The stone connotes the magic of the cosmos as well as the predetermined fate of the characters. It also indicates a high concentration of karmic energy, which means that particularly intense events, both good and evil, will occur in its vicinity. Other objects become powerful when they are compared to the stone, for instance Bao-chai’s gold locket, which shares a similar inscription. The jade is essentially a talisman from the cosmos, and it indicates the particular presence of fate and otherworldly influence. Although it is seen as a protective charm, it brings with it both good and bad attention.  

Monks appear throughout the novel as a symbol of spiritual teachings and spiritual wisdom. In many instances, they are discussed in reference to Impervioso and Mysterioso, who are rarely named but are known by their descriptions—as disheveled, “disreputable” looking characters.