Period:Eastern Zhou dynasty Production date:4thC BC-3rdC BC (circa)
Materials:jade, nephrite,
Technique:engraved
Dimensions:Diameter: 2.30 centimetres
Description:
Pair of split rings, ‘jue’, with spiral decoration. Made of engraved jade (green).
IMG
![图片[1]-ring BM-1945-1017.80-81-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Eastern Zhou dynasty/Jades/mid_00297727_001.jpg)
Comments:Rawson 1995:Slit rings, or ‘jue’, as they are known, have a long history. However, it is unclear whether or not they were used continuously from the Neolithic period to the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Although ‘jue’ were employed in the Hemudu, Majiabang and Songze stages of the Neolithic period, they do not seem to have been characteristic of either the Dawenkou or Liangzhu cultures. From the Shang period onwards, ‘jue’ became much more common and examples are quite frequent in Western Zhou tombs. Indeed, it is probable that they were deliberately revived in the later Western or early Eastern Zhou, following ritual changes. This revival of much older jade types, specifically ‘jue’, in the early Eastern Zhou is further suggested by the type of ‘jue’ seen on these pieces, made from relatively thick tubes with a slit, which can only be explained as the recreation or deliberate revival of a much earlier type. Thick, almost tubular ‘jue’ were used by peoples of the early Neolithic cultures, the Cha-hai in the north-east and the Majiabang in the south-east. These substantial ‘jue’ then declined and disappeared, which means that the Eastern zhou pieces could not have been part of a continuous line of development. It is possible, however, that Hongshang or Majiabang pieces survived by chance and that they were the basis for the recreation of thick ‘jue’ such as these two.
Materials:jade, nephrite,
Technique:engraved
Dimensions:Diameter: 2.30 centimetres
Description:
Pair of split rings, ‘jue’, with spiral decoration. Made of engraved jade (green).
IMG
Comments:Rawson 1995:Slit rings, or ‘jue’, as they are known, have a long history. However, it is unclear whether or not they were used continuously from the Neolithic period to the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Although ‘jue’ were employed in the Hemudu, Majiabang and Songze stages of the Neolithic period, they do not seem to have been characteristic of either the Dawenkou or Liangzhu cultures. From the Shang period onwards, ‘jue’ became much more common and examples are quite frequent in Western Zhou tombs. Indeed, it is probable that they were deliberately revived in the later Western or early Eastern Zhou, following ritual changes. This revival of much older jade types, specifically ‘jue’, in the early Eastern Zhou is further suggested by the type of ‘jue’ seen on these pieces, made from relatively thick tubes with a slit, which can only be explained as the recreation or deliberate revival of a much earlier type. Thick, almost tubular ‘jue’ were used by peoples of the early Neolithic cultures, the Cha-hai in the north-east and the Majiabang in the south-east. These substantial ‘jue’ then declined and disappeared, which means that the Eastern zhou pieces could not have been part of a continuous line of development. It is possible, however, that Hongshang or Majiabang pieces survived by chance and that they were the basis for the recreation of thick ‘jue’ such as these two.
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