This chapter examines the aesthetic consciousness reflected in prehistoric jade objects, exploring their cultural, symbolic, and artistic significance across northern and southern Chinese Neolithic cultures. Jade, revered for its natural beauty and imbued with virtues, transitioned from utilitarian tools to ritual and decorative artifacts, symbolizing authority, spirituality, and social status. Northern cultures like Xinglongwa and Hongshan pioneered early jade craftsmanship, producing iconic ritual objects such as jue rings and dragon-shaped pendants linked to shamanistic practices. The Hongshan culture, notable for its animal engravings and ceremonial jade, laid the foundation for Chinese dragon imagery. Southern cultures, particularly Liangzhu, achieved technical and artistic sophistication with intricate cong tubes and bi discs, embodying divine authority and cosmological harmony. The chapter highlights cross-regional influences, the evolution of jade from practical to symbolic uses, and the emergence of standardized motifs like dragons and phoenixes. It underscores jade’s role in ritual systems, social hierarchy, and the interplay between aesthetic innovation and spiritual beliefs, positioning prehistoric jade as a cornerstone of Chinese cultural identity.