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A ''cong'' () is a form of ancient Chinese jade artifact. It was later also used in ceramics.


History

The earliest ''cong'' were produced by the Xuejiagang culture and the Liangzhu culture ( 3400– 2250 BC); later examples date mainly from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Interest in the jade shape developed during the 12th–13th century
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
. The shape continued to be used in ceramic and metalwork for centuries.
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
TV documentary: ''China in Six Easy Pieces'' (2013) presented by Lars Tharp http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036r5cx


Description

A ''cong'' is a straight tube with a circular bore and square outer section with more or less convex sides. The outer surface is divided vertically or horizontally such that the whole defines a hollow cylinder embedded in a partial rectangular block. Proportions vary: a ''cong'' may be squat or taller than it is wide. The outer faces are sometimes decorated with mask-like faces, which may be related to the ''
taotie The ''taotie'' is an ancient Chinese mythological creature that was commonly emblazoned on bronze and other artifacts during the 1st millennium BCE. ''Taotie'' are one of the Four Perils in Chinese classics like the ''Classic of Mountains an ...
'' designs found on later bronze vessels. Although it is generally considered to be a ritual object of some sort, the original function and meaning of the ''cong'' are unknown. Later writings speak of the ''cong'' as symbolizing the earth, while the '' bi'' represents the heavens. The square represents the earth and a circle represents the heavens.


References


Further reading

*''Les jades néolithiques chinois'' / ontributions de Christophe Comentale, Laurent Long, Tong Peihua, Zhang Jingguo our l'ACI Du chopper au brilliant aris: Museum national d'histoire naturelle, cop. 2008, 1 vol. (81 p.) : ill., couv. ill.; 30 cm *''Art et archéologie : la Chine du Néolithique à la fin des Cinq Dynasties, 960 de notre ère'' / Danielle Elisseeff; Paris : École du Louvre : RMN, 2008 *"Neolithic Chinese Jades", Angus Forsyth, in ''Jade''. Ed. Roger Keverne. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991. pp. 88–109.


External links

*http://www.asia.si.edu/explore/china/jades/gallery.asp#cong *http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/72376 *https://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/asia/room_33b_chinese_jade.aspx Archaeological artifacts of China Archaeological artefact types Chinese porcelain Chinese pottery Hardstone carving Pottery shapes Jade {{china-stub