Cong (vessel)

A cong (Chinese: 琮; pinyin: cóng; Wade–Giles: ts'ung2) is a form of ancient Chinese jade artifact.[1] It was later also used in ceramics.

Jade cong from Liangzhu culture, Neolithic Period (3300 - 2200 B.C.), lower Yangzi River Valley
External video
Jade Cong, Smarthistory
Longquan celadon cong, 12th–13th century

History

The earliest cong were produced by the Liangzhu culture (3400-2250 BC); later examples date mainly from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.[2]

Interest in the jade shape developed during the 12th-13th century Song dynasty. The shape continued to be used in ceramic and metalwork for centuries.[3]

Description

In form, 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 designs found on later bronze vessels.

Although 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.

Further reading
  • Les jades néolithiques chinois / [contributions de Christophe Comentale, Laurent Long, Tong Peihua, Zhang Jingguo]; [pour l'ACI Du chopper au brilliant], [Paris] : 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.

References
  1. Greg Woolf (2007). Ancient civilizations: the illustrated guide to belief, mythology, and art. Barnes & Noble. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-4351-0121-0.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. BBC TV documentary: China in Six Easy Pieces (2013) presented by Lars Tharp http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036r5cx

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