This is an authentic Chinese ancient jade bi disc from the Qi Jia Culture, Northwestern China, 3,000-2,000 BCE. This comes from our private collection.

Dimensions: the bi disc is 5.5 inches diameter and with stand it is 7 inches high

Photographed indoor and out- of- doors for your visual convenience.

Neolithic jades from this period are handmade and hand abraded and hand polished using primitive tools of the time: bamboo, stone, water and stone dust

This example is rare because of the beautiful rich green colors and pattern caused from calcification which took thousands of years to form, and because of original string cutting line on the jade is visible on its reverse side. Natural organic string made from vegetation combined with sand paste and water were the tools used to abrade and cut hard jade stone. In addition this bi displays a beautiful cloud pattern calcium mineralization from being buried underground for thousands of years.

Provenance:
Our private collection and accompanied by our Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

In addition, our jade bi have been authenticated by Mr. Gu Fang, Senior Fellow at the Center of Jadeology and Jade Culture in Beijing, (see photo of Mr. Gu Fang with Mr. Schneible)

This is a genuine ancient artifact and not a reproduction.

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) onward.

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.

We have been dealing in authentic Japanese, Chinese, European, and Asian Fine art, antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels to Japan, Europe and China 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 in large containers. This method keeps shipping costs low and enables us to offer them to you at reasonable prices. We ship internationally.