Cleveland Museum of Art

Ceremonial Disc (Bi)

Date

3300–2200 BCE

Medium

jade (nephrite)

Culture

East China, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture (3300–2200 BCE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Liangzhu culture, one of the later Neolithic cultures of East China, excelled in jade working. Exceptionally large versions like this disc are rare and usually occupied pride of place on the chest of the buried. Traditionally called bi , these plain discs, together with cong , squared cylinders, form an essential ritual pair in Liangzhu burials of high-status individuals.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.