Ritual Disk (Bi) (Translation)
玉璧 新石器時期 良渚文化 (Primary Title)
Bi Disc (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Rounded and perforated disks known as bi are one of the earliest ritual jade objects in ancient China. This heavy, well-polished, and undecorated bi disk is engraved from green jade material with brown and red intrusions on its austere surface. Its uneven thickness and defective holes drilled from opposite sides reveal that it was crafted using rudimentary stone tools more than four thousand years ago. Following the discovery of the Liangzhu Culture in 1936, archaeologists have conducted extensive excavations since 1986 in the Lake Taihu region, Zhejiang Province, recovering large amounts of jade objects from royal tombs and sacrificial sites. Bi disks like this could be found at a sacrificial altar or on the chest of a tomb occupant as a symbol of power and immortality.
Neolithic period, Liangzhu Culture (3200-2300 BC)
.
None
Gift of the Estate of Senator Hugh Scott
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
