Disc
ca. 2000 BC -1500 BC (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
A ‘bi’ is a flat circular slab of jade with a central hole. An ancient Chinese text entitled the ‘Zhouli’ (‘Rituals of Zhou’) describes the ‘bi’ as a ceremonial object to sacrifice to Heaven. However the ‘bi’ was made at least a thousand years before the ‘Zhouli’ was written. Its function in prehistoric times remains unknown.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Nephrite jade, carved |
Brief description | Disc, Bi, Nephrite jade, China, ca. 2000 BC -1500 BC. |
Physical description | Mottled dark green bi with brown inclusions |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Summary | A ‘bi’ is a flat circular slab of jade with a central hole. An ancient Chinese text entitled the ‘Zhouli’ (‘Rituals of Zhou’) describes the ‘bi’ as a ceremonial object to sacrifice to Heaven. However the ‘bi’ was made at least a thousand years before the ‘Zhouli’ was written. Its function in prehistoric times remains unknown. |
Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose (ed). Chinese Art and Design. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991, nr.105. |
Collection | |
Accession number | CIRC.3-1933 |
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Record created | May 8, 2000 |
Record URL |
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