DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63296#0053
THE SIX RITUAL JADES
According to the Chou Lit the Grand Master of the Sacred Ceremonies
“ renders homage to Heaven with the round tablet pi of blue-green
colour; renders homage to earth with the tablet tiling of yellow colour;
renders homage to the region of the East with the long tablet kuei of
greenish colour; renders homage to the region of the South with the
red chang ; renders homage to the region of the West with the tablet hu
in the shape of a white tiger ; renders homage to the region of the North
with the half-pi, huang, black in colour/'1
Dr* Laufer2 says , ♦ ♦ 44 it is impossible to separate ♦ ♦ * the jade images
in their relation to the cult from their relation to the grave ; their relations
to life and death are mutually connected, and must be examined together*"
However true this may be from the larger ethnological and cultural point
of view from which Dr* Laufer writes, it does not affect the collector who
finds that funeral emblems are usually smaller than those used for religious
purposes and often of very rough, poor workmanship; he also notices
that the ritual colours are not observed in the selection of the jade; but
we shall shortly return to this subject*
THE PI
The pi is a circular jade disc with a central orifice. It varies consider-
ably in size and thickness, but, according to the dictionary Erh Ya, its
proportions should be constant and the ring of jade should be twice the
width of the orifice it encloses* As a matter of practical experience we
find the orifice is sometimes a third, sometimes a fourth, fifth, or even
ninth part of the diameter of the disc*
A commentator, writing in the 2nd century A*D*, says : 44 Consecrated
objects for paying homage to superior spirits should by their shape resemble
the nature of these diverse spirits. The pi is round and represents heaven,"
It may, therefore, be taken to figure the circular vault of heaven revolving
round a pivotal stillness, that circumpolar region which was the abode
of Deity or Supreme Power, or it may, as Dr* Schindler suggests,
merely represent the early pictograph for sun* The orifice may possibly
have had the same purpose as the cylinder of the ts'ung, i*e* to serve as a
conductor of dynamic power and a focus of celestial influence.
The ideogram pi (Giles, 8958) means 44 jade which confers on princes
the authority to arrest the guilty," and seems to indicate that this jade
disc was used in very early days as a symbol of the dignity of princes*
1 Tcheou Li, p. 434, Vol. I.
29
2 P. 122/ Jade,
According to the Chou Lit the Grand Master of the Sacred Ceremonies
“ renders homage to Heaven with the round tablet pi of blue-green
colour; renders homage to earth with the tablet tiling of yellow colour;
renders homage to the region of the East with the long tablet kuei of
greenish colour; renders homage to the region of the South with the
red chang ; renders homage to the region of the West with the tablet hu
in the shape of a white tiger ; renders homage to the region of the North
with the half-pi, huang, black in colour/'1
Dr* Laufer2 says , ♦ ♦ 44 it is impossible to separate ♦ ♦ * the jade images
in their relation to the cult from their relation to the grave ; their relations
to life and death are mutually connected, and must be examined together*"
However true this may be from the larger ethnological and cultural point
of view from which Dr* Laufer writes, it does not affect the collector who
finds that funeral emblems are usually smaller than those used for religious
purposes and often of very rough, poor workmanship; he also notices
that the ritual colours are not observed in the selection of the jade; but
we shall shortly return to this subject*
THE PI
The pi is a circular jade disc with a central orifice. It varies consider-
ably in size and thickness, but, according to the dictionary Erh Ya, its
proportions should be constant and the ring of jade should be twice the
width of the orifice it encloses* As a matter of practical experience we
find the orifice is sometimes a third, sometimes a fourth, fifth, or even
ninth part of the diameter of the disc*
A commentator, writing in the 2nd century A*D*, says : 44 Consecrated
objects for paying homage to superior spirits should by their shape resemble
the nature of these diverse spirits. The pi is round and represents heaven,"
It may, therefore, be taken to figure the circular vault of heaven revolving
round a pivotal stillness, that circumpolar region which was the abode
of Deity or Supreme Power, or it may, as Dr* Schindler suggests,
merely represent the early pictograph for sun* The orifice may possibly
have had the same purpose as the cylinder of the ts'ung, i*e* to serve as a
conductor of dynamic power and a focus of celestial influence.
The ideogram pi (Giles, 8958) means 44 jade which confers on princes
the authority to arrest the guilty," and seems to indicate that this jade
disc was used in very early days as a symbol of the dignity of princes*
1 Tcheou Li, p. 434, Vol. I.
29
2 P. 122/ Jade,