A chicken-bone jade cylindrical tube, cong
Western Zhou Dynasty
Of short cylindrical square section, decorated with stylised faces incised with small eyes and protruding large noses on the four angled corners, the opaque stone of chalky white colour with grey specks.
8.9cm (3 1/2in) diam.
Of short cylindrical square section, decorated with stylised faces incised with small eyes and protruding large noses on the four angled corners, the opaque stone of chalky white colour with grey specks.
8.9cm (3 1/2in) diam.
FOOTNOTES
- 西周 雞骨白玉琮Although their exact function and meaning are still unclear, according to the Zhouli (a Han reconstruction of a lost Zhou dynasty text), jade burial practice during the Zhou dynasty included placing a bidisc, a symbol of heaven, on the chest, and a cong, a symbol of Earth, beneath the body. See M.Sullivan, The Arts of China, California, 1999, p.39.
此玉琮由雞白玉製成，內圓外方，中有穿孔，整體為扁圓筒形，突出的四角各琢刻一簡化人面紋，以淺浮雕結合細線刻雕琢成，簡單利落。
有關玉琮的用途，考古界至今尚未有統一定論，最早關於琮的記載見於《周禮》：「以蒼璧禮天、黃琮禮地」，認為琮屬於一種祭祀地神的禮器。可詳閱M.Sullivan著，《The Arts of China》，加州，1999年，頁39。
