Bi Disc with notches / Artist Unknown, China
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2009/2.110
- Title
- Bi Disc with notches
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, China
- Artist Nationality
- Chinese
- Medium and Support
- jade
- Object Creation Date
- circa 15th century BCE - 11th century BCE
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- China (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- China (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Agnes S.Chan
- Dimensions
- 5.5 cm x 5.5 cm x 0.3 cm (2 3/16 in. x 2 3/16 in. x 1/8 in.)
- Primary Object Classification
- Hardstone
- Primary Object Type
- jade
- Secondary Object Classification
- Ritual Objects
- Physical Description
- This jade disc has a circular hole in the center, and is carved in a way that the jade appears to be turning around this central point, almost in the shape of a hurricane symbol if it were to have three prongs. On each of the three prongs are three evenly spaced raised bumps.
- Subject Matter
- This is a variety of bi disc, a circular object usually carved from jade made in periods ranging from Neolithic to Han China. Bi represent the heavens, which their rectangular counterpart, the cong, represents the earth. Their function is unknown, but is suspected to have been ritual or astronomical in nature.
- Secondary Keywords
- associated concepts
- descriptors
- geometric concepts
- geometric figures
- mathematical concepts
- object genres
- object genres by cultural or intellectual valuation
- objects we use
- people and culture
- plane figures
- scientific concepts
- sculpture
- sculpture by material
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 2592 x 3888
- File Size
- 97 KB
- Record
- 2009/2.110
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2009-sl-2.110/2009_2.110.jpg
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- In public portfolios
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Bi Disc with notches; Artist Unknown, China." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2009-sl-2.110/2009_2.110.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 10, 2024.