Magnificent Prehistoric Jade Disk from LiangZhu Culture

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Prehistoric Jade Artifacts from the Yangtz River valley LiangZhu Culture (3310 - 2250 B.C.) A glimpse of Liangzhu Culture Glimmering from Ancient Era Every piece tells a fabulous story Magnificent Prehistoric Jade Disk or Bi, Ritual Object from LiangZhu Culture (3310 - 2250 B.C.) Age: LiangZhu Culture (3310 - 2250 B.C.) Diameter: 14.5cm, Thickness: 0.3cm, Weight :1.0 Kg Condition: Some expected wear, degradation, natural crazing, abrasions, chips & minor losses, touch-ups to jade chips, and restoration, as a consequence of extended burial. Each item sold by us has 100% money back guarantee and come with a Certificate of Authenticity from CSFAC Dynasty Antiques Co. Ltd. is one member of the CSFAC (Chinese Society of Folk Antique Collection) and abides by the rules of conduct, you can contact with us at or contact with CSFAC at Jades of the Liangzhu Culture (The Dawn of Chinese Civilization) The Liangzhu culture, dated to 3310 - 2250 B.C., is a late Neolithic (or Chalcolithic) culture located in Southeast China. Well known for its high quality and number of jade artifacts, it succeeded the Majiabang culture and later became part of the Shang Dynasty. The Liangzhu culture is roughly contemporary with the Longshan and Hongshan cultures to the north.The Liangzhu culture consists of over 100 sites, of which 30 have been excavated, residing south and east of Lake Tai on a peninsula formed by the Yangzi River and Hangzhou Bay. This peninsula, named Tai Hu Bandao, has played an important role in China throughout its history. Shanghai lies on the east seashore and to the southwest, the city of Hangzhou was the capitol of several dynasties in China's past. Hangzhou was a small town during the Chalcolithic Liangzhu culture and was originally named "Liangzhu". The small town was renamed many times and eventually became a very important city and one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization.The Liangzhu culture, growing keng rice and making black-based and black-burnished pottery, represents the earliest Chalcolithic Culture in southeast China. They also left significant evidence to reveal some of their social practices. The evidence shows a pronounced social structure, a reckless consumption labour, extensive human sacrifice, and the iconography of power.Near Shanghai, in qingpu lies a great mound raised exclusively for Liangzhu burials named Fuquanshan. The mound contains massive numbers of sacrificially burned slaves, as well as tombs of the more opulent people of the culture. In the center of the mound lies a tomb, Tomb 144, which was surmounted by three levels that had been scorched by fire. This tomb encased an inner and outer coffin. The Inner coffin held a skeleton surrounded by many fine jades. On top of the outer coffin lied the remains of a sacrificial victim.The most remarkable part of the Liangzhu culture is their large number and high quality of green jade artifacts, and their religious importance. Many other cultures that were contemporary to the Liangzhu culture also had jades, but none could compare to those of the Liangzhu culture. Unlike the later dynastic periods, the Neolithic jades are easily distinguishable by style, quality, and the technique used to make them. The Liangzhu jades are set far apart from those from other cultures.T were two kinds of jades that were prominent for their ritual use during this time. These are called bi and cong jades. The bi is a circular ring used to worship heaven, and the cong is an elongated square tube used to worship earth. Over 5,000 jades have been collected so far. These jades, especially the congs, also have the earliest taotie mask designs as a part of their inscriptions. The taotie mask is an image formed when the elaborate carvings on a jade are arranged in such a way that the image of a fac... read more

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