Jade Sea

The Jade Sea is a distant and fabled body of water, lying far to the east of Westeros beyond the Free Cities and the lands of the Dothraki. In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, it represents the ultimate horizon of trade and adventure, a place of immense wealth and exotic goods that draws merchants, pirates, and exiles from across the known world. Its waters are said to wash the shores of lands like Qarth, Asshai, and the fabled islands of the Jade Gates, making it a destination for the most ambitious and desperate voyages.

Geography and Trade

The Jade Sea is the easternmost sea commonly known to Westerosi and Essosi traders. It is connected to the Summer Sea and the waters around Valyria by a long and perilous route. The journey to the Jade Sea is fraught with danger, as noted by the captain of the Fawn, who refused to sail into Slaver's Bay, stating, "We will take on water and provisions at New Ghis, then bend all oars toward Qarth and the Jade Gates." The sea is a source of immense wealth, with ships returning from its shores laden with "cloves and saffron, jet and jade, scarlet samite, green silk." This trade is so valuable that even a single voyage can make a man rich, as Davos Seaworth reflects, "One voyage to the east, and a man could live as rich as a lord until the end of his days." The Braavosi banker Tycho Nestoris mentions that the Iron Bank's ships moor at the Purple Harbor, while Westerosi travelers typically come and go from the Ragman's Harbor, indicating the Jade Sea's role as a nexus for the most lucrative commerce.

Perils and Legends

The sea is not only a source of wealth but also of great peril. The voyage is long and dangerous, with storms, pirates, and the threat of disease. The Selaesori Qhoran, a ship bound for Qarth by way of New Ghis, carries a cargo that includes "a corpse pickled in brine," a grim reminder of the hazards of such journeys. The sea is also associated with legends and exotic creatures. The Jade Compendium, a book written by the Volantene adventurer Colloquo Votar, who traveled to the east and visited all the lands of the Jade Sea, is a key source of knowledge about the region. This book contains passages about Azor Ahai and his sword Lightbringer, suggesting that the Jade Sea is a repository of ancient lore and prophecy.

Narrative Significance

In the narrative, the Jade Sea functions as a symbol of distant, almost mythical, wealth and danger. It is a goal for those seeking fortune or escape, such as the merchant prince Xaro Xhoan Daxos, who trades in its goods, and for exiles like Tyrion Lannister, who dreams of seeing its wonders. The sea is also a destination for the most ambitious voyages, as when the Golden Company's fleet is scattered, and some ships are feared lost or have landed elsewhere. The mention of the Jade Sea often underscores the vastness of the world and the immense distances that characters must travel, reinforcing the themes of exile, ambition, and the high cost of adventure.