This is an authentic Chinese bi disc from China dating to the Qijia culture (2000 BC- 3000 BC). It was fashioned from a rare blue calcite stone and is quite thick. This comes from our private ancient Chinese collection which was formed from extensively traveling and collecting artifacts in all parts of China, 1990-2005.

Dimensions: the disc is 4 inches diameter and with stand 5.5 inches high. We will include the custom display stand photographed which displays it nicely.

Bi discs carved in blue calcite are rare- a scarce natural resource even in China at that time. They were hand carved and then hand polished. This type of disc was created for important wealthy individuals including royalty.

We guarantee its authenticity.

We will include our Schneible Fine Arts LLC Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

In addition, our bi has been authenticated by Mr. Gu Fang, Senior Fellow at the Centre of Jadeology and Jade Culture in Beijing, in 1/1/07 (see photo)

Schneible Fine Arts has been dealing in authentic Chinese, Japanese antiquities and fine art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Mr. Schneible personally travels to China, Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity, and quality condition. After accumulating a group, they are imported to Vermont and Maine in large containers. This method keeps shipping costs low and enables us to offer them to you at reasonable prices. We carefully pack and ship to clients all-over the USA and at reasonable shipping costs.

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 cong symbolizing the earth. To worship heaven with a bi explains their importance and use. Bi also 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 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.