Serpentine Bi Disk Jade Bi

Originally thought to have been given to Emperor Zhu Gong of the Zhou dynasty (1046 - 246 BCE). Recent research has shown the Bi comes from the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911 CE) and is a product of the Traditionalist artistic movement in China. Most likely made after the conquest of Khotan in 1763 CE, this Bi is inscribed with a commemoration from the Zhou dynasty to the Chu king Chu Zhuang (613 - 591 BCE).

A disc with a concentric hole in the center, bi originated in the Neolithic period (ca. 6,000—2250 BCE) and has persisted throughout Chinese history. Bi was initially used as a ritual object and represented the cosmic concept of the covering sky that revolves around a central axis.