NEOLITHIC PERIOD

Details

A large Neolithic jade disc, bi
Neolithic Period
The stone of mottled spinach green, pale celadon, ochre and russet tone with darker inclusions, pierced slightly off centre with a wide aperture, old chips and wear to rim
20.2 cm. diam.

Provenance

Sir Michael Wright, England.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

This circular jade disc with central hole characterizes the ritual shape known as bi as mentioned in texts of Eastern Zhou and Han date where it can be deduced that it represents Heaven, in accordance the beliefs of central Asian nomadic tribes. Together with the cong, the bi was in use as a ritual symbol with which notables were buried for centuries and which is still in production till this day.

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