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Chinese Cache Ancient Heavenly Green Jade Bi , 94 pieces

$2,000
£1,511.75
€1,737.27
CA$2,784.99
A$3,098.18
CHF 1,624.11
MX$37,859.06
NOK 20,680.98
SEK 19,468.28
DKK 12,968.08
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About the Item

This is a guaranteed authentic ancient Chinese jade bi cache of ninety four (94) discs from the Qijia culture, Northwestern China, circa 3000-2000 BCE. Including Our Certificate of Authenticity To worship heaven with a bi explains their importance and use in ancient Chinese culture. This group would make an instant collection for reference study, trading, making into your own pendant jewelry, or new year gifts. Dimensions will vary : 1.25 to 2.5 inches diameters Quality will vary from good to fair- please refer to the photographs. Shapes will include round, nearly round, and scarcer square styles. A brief history follows. Note the stunning green and brown calcification and hues combination. We acquired these over 20 years ago on one of our dozens of trips to China, northwestern China, Lanzhou area. Provenance: 1 Our private collection and by our Guarantee of Authenticity. 2 In addition, our jade bi have been authenticated by Mr. Gu Fang, Senior Fellow at the Center of Jadeology and Jade Culture in Beijing. History: Flat jade discs with a round central hole bi are among the earliest surviving artifacts of China and must be considered among great ancient art forms- masterpieces of the Neolithic period. Nephrite jade from which discs were fashioned is a prime hard and strong stone, arduous to work by hand using Primitive stone tools and abrasives. It's no wonder then that jade discs "bi" represent remarkable craftsmanship. While all theories presented to date are speculative, we can forward one Based Upon the warring states text Zhou Li that bi are thought to represent symbols of heaven and were used in ancient rituals together with square tubes and cong symbolizing the earth. To worship heaven with a bi explains their importance and use and symbolize status of high social rank and sheds light on why many carved jades have been found in Zhou royal tombs. They are prominently found in varied qualities, quantities and sizes. Their ritual prominence stretches from the most ancient of Chinese history- Hongshan/Liangzhou/Longshan (4700-2190 BCE)/ Qi Jia cultures and on to the Zhou dynasty (3000-250 BCE) onwards. Today jade bi are emblematic of power, status and privileged classes and offer more complex, varied meaning. Please refer to these excellent publications: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, exhibition catalogue, The British Museum, London, 1995, pp 13ff, and Section 4. And also Radiant Stones Archaic Chinese Jades, the Myrna and Samurai Myers collection, 2000 curated by Filippo Salviati, PhD, entry 14, Bi Disc.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)Diameter: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    2000-3000 BCE
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
  • Seller Location:
    South Burlington, VT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1289244417602

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