Jade Rush: Materiality, Mistrust, and the Livestreaming Jadeite Trade
Digitalisation has changed the jadeite trade between Myanmar and China. Valuing of the rare mineral however still relies on personal judgment, Shaohua Xiang shows.
“The value of jadeite can’t be easily standardised. Prices are not fixed or objective. Because the stones are difficult to measure precisely, people rely on their senses, especially sight and touch, and shared trading practices to decide what they are worth. My study helps explain why trust, expertise and mediation remain important even in this highly digitalised trade.
Livestreaming
“My research is motivated by an interest in how digital technologies intersect with long-standing trading practices. Over several years I conducted long-term qualitative fieldwork, in which I explored how traders, livestreamers and platforms evaluate, present and assess jadeite in both physical markets and online livestreaming environments.
“I demonstrate that livestreaming has not replaced traditional trading practices or markets, but has adapted and extended them into a digital environment in which personal mediation remains essential. While new technologies make trading more accessible, uncertainty and trust remain central. In this sense, digital platforms change how jadeite is traded, but not the basic challenges involved in valuing it.”
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