Pearls in Myths

Pearls have long been attributed with having great powers, and have been incorporated into the mythology of virtually every culture that has encountered them. And no wonder! Given natural pearls' rarity, as well as their mysterious beauty, who could argue that pearls might not indeed be a gift from the gods?

Islamic tradition holds pearls in high regard and the Koran speaks of pearls as one of the great rewards found in Paradise, and the gem itself has become a symbol of perfection.

Christianity also adopted the pearl as a symbol of purity. Many of these ideas have come down to us in pearl lore and legend, and persist even today. For example, pearls are often associated with brides and weddings -- a concept possibly dating all the way back to Krishna and the wedding of his daughter. Pearls are also said to symbolize tears, to provide love and fertility, to symbolize purity, and to ward off evil.

In addition -- and perhaps deriving from their mythological significance -- pearls have often been attributed medicinal qualities and used to treat a wide variety of physical ailments.

Pearls In Art And Literature

The formation of pearls is a unique phenomenon of mother nature--not only for their origins, created by certain mollusks in the ocean and accessible only in deep-sea, but for their unusual, beautiful luster, their pale color, and their roundness. All of these have contributed to the enduring public fascination with pearls.

Pearls have been celebrated in Western art and literature since they were first brought from the East, many believe by Alexander the Great between 334 and 330 B.C. The Pearl examines the various myths associated with pearls, including the belief that they had medicinal or talismanic powers; the response of the Church to the wearing of pearls and the symbolism of pearls in Christianity; and the various literary references to them.

Myths and legends of pearls in China are always have something with the moon. The first pearl was born because of the moon; one of the four beauties in Chinese history, Xi Shi was born from a big beautiful pearl of the goddess of the moon, Chang Er.