A yù pèi is a traditional Chinese jade pendant, typically carved into auspicious shapes—such as dragons, phoenixes, or mythical beasts—and worn suspended from the waist or belt. The character yù (玉) means 'jade', symbolizing purity, virtue, and nobility in Chinese culture; pèi (佩) means 'to wear at the waist' or 'ornament worn on the body', historically indicating status, moral integrity, or ritual function. Together, yù pèi refers specifically to a ceremonial or decorative jade object worn as a personal adornment with deep cultural resonance.

These pendants were especially prominent during the Zhou, Han, and Ming dynasties among scholars and aristocrats. Though modern usage is largely decorative or symbolic, yù pèi still appears in literature, museums, and traditional ceremonies—often evoking elegance, refinement, or ancestral reverence. Unlike generic jewelry, it carries connotations of ethical cultivation and harmony with nature, reflecting Confucian and Daoist ideals embedded in material culture.