Blade
ca. 2000 BC-1600 BC (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
An ancient Chinese text entitled The Zhouli (Rituals of Zhou) describes a 'zhang' as a ceremonial object to sacrifice to the direction south. But the text gives no description about the shape of the zhang. In the first few decades of the 20th century a fairly large number of jade blades with a curved end were excavated from neolithic sites, the present example being one of them. Chinese archaeologists believe this type of blades is the zhang mentioned in the Zhouli.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Nephrite jade, carved |
| Brief description | Blade, shenmu shimao black yazhang, ca. 2000-1600 BC |
| Physical description | The blade is concave on both sides and honed to a fine cutting edge. Black nephrite jade. Ceremonial sword for ritual use. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Blade (yazhang)
Stone Age
2000-1600 BC
Carved nephrite jade
From Shenmu Shimao, north China
Museum no. A.62-1936(2007) |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Production | from Shenmu Shimao, China |
| Summary | An ancient Chinese text entitled The Zhouli (Rituals of Zhou) describes a 'zhang' as a ceremonial object to sacrifice to the direction south. But the text gives no description about the shape of the zhang. In the first few decades of the 20th century a fairly large number of jade blades with a curved end were excavated from neolithic sites, the present example being one of them. Chinese archaeologists believe this type of blades is the zhang mentioned in the Zhouli. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.62-1936 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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