Nephrite is a type of jade, and some think that it is no less valuable than Jadeite, the "other jade", as it were.
The seven circles united by a line can sometimes be interpreted as the "seven stars", a reference to the pleiades. The circles united by lines are a common oriental symbol for stars. I include a pic of a tsuba that I have on my favorite sword, a japanese sword that I particularly like. On that, the silver dots are obviously in the shape of the big dipper, and the sword-blade-shaped symbol is thought to represent a comet. If there are experts in astronomy they could tell the year that a comet passed by the last star of the big dipper. The Tsuba in question is quite old and massive. I bought it separately from the sword and put it on there.
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