his is an authentic Chinese ancient jade bi disc from the Han dynasty (220 BC-220AD). This comes from our private ancient Chinese jade collection which was formed from, 1990-2005.

Dimensions: the bi disc is 7.6 inches diameter and .22 inches thick. We will include a custom display Stand which displays it nicely.

Jades from this period are handmade, engraved using metal tools which were available at that time, and then hand polished. This type of polished jade was created for important wealthy individuals including royalty. The engraved design includes cross hatching, yak, steer or bison horns, and tao tie mask representations common for that day.

We guarantee its authenticity.

Our jade bi has been authenticated by Mr. Gu Fang, Senior Fellow at the Centre of Jadeology and Jade Culture in Beijing, #12191 (see certificate 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 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.