This video explores mysterious tubular objects carved from jade, called cóng, found in Neolithic tombs dated to 2500 BCE in China. These graves belonged to a prehistoric community we refer to as the Liangzhu culture, one of ancient China’s earliest jade-producing cultures. What was the significance of these precious jade objects to the people who produced them and buried them with their dead?

Jade is an expensive material that is difficult to carve. They are associated with status and wealth. Jade cóng may be connected to early Chinese views of the universe that consisted of a square Earth and a round (circular) canopy that represented Heaven. However, some have interesting decorations that include mask-like faces and mysterious figures wearing fanciful feathered headdresses, which we still question the meaning of to this day.

This video is perfect for anyone interested in:

• Neolithic

• Prehistoric Art

• Early China

• Jade

• Art History

Speaker: Dr. Cortney Chaffin Kim

CHAPTERS

0:00 A Neolithic cóng

0:20 What is a cóng?

1:43 Why are jade objects so hard to carve?

2:29 Decoration of cóng

2:58 Funerary context of cóng

3:39 Possible meaning

Learn more

1. Discover more about Neolithic China: https://www.artsq.org/neolithic-china

2. Check out our entire glossary of art history: https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history