Cong
Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, c. 3300-2400 B.C.
Medium
Jade
Dimensions
8.3 × 13.9 cm (3 1/4 × 5 1/2 in.)
Classification
jade
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
33098
Art Historical Context
This exquisite jade *cong*, dating to the Neolithic Liangzhu culture (c. 3300–2400 B.C.), exemplifies one of ancient China's most enigmatic ritual artifacts. Shaped as a square outer tube encasing a circular inner hollow—symbolizing the ancient Chinese cosmology of square earth and round heaven—this compact piece (8.3 × 13.9 cm) was meticulously carved from nephrite jade, a material revered for its toughness and luminous quality. Liangz artisans achieved extraordinary technical mastery hollowing and polishing the unyielding stone with rudimentary tools like abrasives and bamboo drills, often ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...