Neolithic Chinese Jade Heaven/Immortality 3-Tier & 3-Sided Temple Amulet "Cong"

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques, & Fine Collectibles
Chinese Jade Three-Sided & Three-Tier Temple Amulet (
"Cong")
With 30+ Graphic Symbols/Characters of Dragons & Animals
English Translation of Incised Characters
Hongshan Culture
c. 4500—2250 B.C.E.
“A Dragon can be unseen or visible, minute or huge,
long or short.  However, always it is great.”
~Shuo Wen (c. 100 AD)
NOTE:
William Houghton, the President of ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
, a State of Washington Licensed Business, assumes all responsibility for the information contained in this description and for the English translation and transcription of the ancient Chinese graphic characters.
Furthermore, I prohibit the further dissemination of this information in any written, video, or electronic format without my expressed, written approval.
Thank You!
SUMMARY
Cut from a single piece of black jade with four sides, this ritual, 3-Tier Neolithic Temple Amulet (called a “
Cong
” in China) measures approximately:
·
Weight:
3.5 oz. (102gr.)
·
Height: 2.60” (66 mm)
·
Width:
1.26” (32 mm)
·
Hole Diameter:
.57” (14.43 mm)
This intricately carved, Neolithic Chinese Amulet is made of pure, Nephrite Jade that weighs about 3.5 oz. (102 gr.).
The once green jade has turned a wonderful shade of black from the iron in the soil that has been absorbed into the jade.
Chinese experts estimate that it was made during the Hongshan Culture of ancient China about 5,000 years ago!
This amulet has petroglyphs/characters that have pecked, etched, and painted onto the surface as a dedication/inscription to the Ancestors; some even small enough to fit inside the wall of the center hole!
See 10x macro photos below for my English translation of these petroglyphs/characters that are in the earliest written language in ancient China.
This ancient, ceremonial jade item is called a “
Cong
” in China.  It dates to the China’s Neolithic period, the Hongshan Culture, in the 5
th
millennium BCE.
On each of the outer sides, the graphic symbol that looks like a plus sign “+” is actually the pictograph for the above-ground temple where the offerings and sacrifices would be made for the departed, who were buried in a tomb below the temple.
The “+” sign also represents the five cardinal points (North, South, East, West, and Center) and the number ten or “
shih
” in Chinese.
The three outer sides of the
tri
-
cong
are also meant to represent Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.
The triangle shape also is the ancient character for “sight” and is used in this context to represent the Ancestors looking with benevolence upon the offerings presented to them at the Temple.
The center hole represents Heaven (
Tian
), the immoral home of the Ancestors and Gods.
There are even some extremely small 2-4mm characters that were incised into the walls of the center hole and that were meant only for the eyes of the Ancestors, as human eyes were not worthy.
There are also incised Chinese characters that were cut and pecked into both ends of the
cong
that appear to be Dragons that would devour any Evil Spirits.
DETAILS
Jade was highly prized by these early civilizations in China, and it was thought to have positive energy to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck and fortune to all who wore a piece on their person--in life and in death.
The production of ritual and imperial jade items was completely controlled by the powerful warlords that ruled ancient China millennia ago.
Jade was also believed to be a portal or messenger that could carry prayers to Heaven and send messages to those on Earth from departed ancestors and Gods in Heaven.
This small, yet thick-walled
cong
is carved and shaped with three equal sides and with a collar on both the top and bottom.
This
cong
has the period correct “uniform bore hole” in the center that measures .57” (14.43 mm) in diameter. The hole was drilled by hand tools from both ends of the
cong
and the hole has a line were the drilled holes meet—another indication that it was drilled by hand with ancient, low RPM
tools.
{See photo # 12.}
This central hole was seen as a window to the Heavens, and therefore to the Ancestors and Gods (“
Shên
” in Chinese).  It was drilled from both sides with a slow-speed drill, as evidenced by the ridge and narrowing of the hole that is visible inside the aperture.  This is the typical, hole-drilling method used for Neolithic jades.  It is period correct and shows the growth of tiny micro-crystals of jade inside the bore holes that can only happen after a piece of carved jade has been buried for thousands of years.  These tiny crystals almost look like white powder and should never be cleaned off or removed.
This hole was made so a person could attach the pendant/bead around his neck or to his waist.
In ancient China, this amulet would have been placed in the tomb or temple of the departed by his family to protect him or her from evil spirits on his journey to the afterlife and to allow him/her to enter Heaven (
Ti’en or Tian
).
It would also show the ancestors and spirits that he was a wealthy and honorable person and that he had Mandarins that could speak to the Heavens for him.
RITUAL OFFERINGS
This ritual, jade disk is believed to have been a precious religious and/or ceremonial object that was offered as a sacrifice to the Ancestors of the deceased in hopes that they would guide the soul of the deceased into eternal life in Heaven.  Jade artifacts like this one were often buried in tombs with the deceased.
The "
Shu Ching
" says it is one of the instruments used by court astronomers to observe the constellations and that this jade cong was used to contact the Ancestors in Heaven to influence the lives of those on Earth.
This
cong
served as an oracle or portal to one’s Ancestors in Heaven, in Chinese “
Ti’en
.”  This amazing jade
cong
also features three sides that symbolize “Heaven, Earth, and Man.”
Because of its small size, this stunning
cong
would only have been a gift to the Ancestors Temple from a moderately wealthy and powerful family in ancient China.  Such ritual gifts or sacrifices were left in the tombs of the departed or at shrines or temples on the surface near the tomb.  The size and numbers of jades that were made for the various upper classes did matter, and both elements were carefully dictated by the ruling warlords and emperors for their dukes, princes, and generals.
The ancient Chinese believed that such gifts would please the Ancestors, who could affect events in Heaven and on Earth, and protect them from Evil Spirits and Demons (“
Kuei
” in Chinese) who were thought to inhabit both worlds.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CHINESE CHARACTERS
When this jade
cong
was professionally cleaned in China to remove excessive weathering, it exposed an estimate 30+, tiny ancient characters that were cut and painted onto the jade.  Both ends of this jade
cong
have several wonderful ancient Chinese pictographic characters that predate the
Ku-wen
or “Large Seal Script” of a thousand years later.
The estimated 30+ pictographic characters are exceedingly small and measure only <4mm long.  The characters are not in columns or rows, but rather are in a circular pattern around the round holes on each end—the portals for the offerings and prayers to the Ancestors to allow the soul of the departed to enter Heaven.
On both the top and bottom collar, there are the images of Fire-Breathing Dragons
and perhaps sacrificed animals that the Son has killed.
On the inside walls of the center hole, there are at least 3 Chinese characters that have been etched in low relief.
These characters were meant only for the eyes of the Ancestors, as human eyes were not worth to see them.
{See photo # 11 and look inside the white circle I have drawn around the characters.}
This lovely
cong
three sides and three levels on each side that have been incorporated into the design of this amulet.
The number “3” (in Chinese “
San
”) has always been considered lucky, as historically it represented “Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.”
·
Confucius said: ‘
Three people are walking together; at least one of them is good enough to be my teacher.’
·
A Chinese proverb goes that “
The wisdom of three ordinary people exceeds that of the wisest individual.
” Here, the number ‘three’ means not only the exact number, but also ‘many’ abstractly.
Moreover, the number ‘three’ has its origin in Confucianism and Taoism.
It stands for Heaven, Earth, and Human being; philosophically, ‘
Tao
’ means the amiableness among the above three elements.
In Chinese tradition, the phrase ‘
San Huang Wu Di
’ (Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns) generally refers to all emperors of ancient China.
Besides, much wider uses of this number can be found in Chinese culture, concerning proverbs, history, and common sense.
This configuration represents the power of jade and of this jade
cong
to transport the soul of the departed safely from Earth to the Heavens and eternal life.
Although this
cong
shows authentic signs of slight pitting and weathering, if you look carefully at the 4x macro photos and especially under 10x magnification, you will see
and estimated 30+
small characters that have been incised, pecked, and/or painted onto the jade, including the one for dragon and for sons sacrificing animals.  T
hese incredibly small characters were meant only for the eyes of the Ancestors.
Human eyes were not worthy to see or read them.
CONDITION
All sides of the
jade
cong
show similar signs of wear and differential weathering, accurate signs of being buried in the damp soil of China for over 5,000 years.  And look at the fantastic coloration of the once green nephrite jade that has turned a wonderful dark black color from the iron and other elements and minerals in the soil that have absorbed into the porous jade over 5,000 years.
As noted above, the
cong
has been professionally cleaned in China to show the beauty of the jade and to expose the very tiny characters that had been carved into it.  This
cong
is a stunning, museum quality example of Neolithic Chinese art that displays magnificently and would look great in your collection!
The jade
cong
has a single, bore hole that was drilled by ancient hand tools from both sides of the amulet--see 4x macro photos.  It is period correct and has a wonderful layer of calcium and micro-crystalline jade inside the bore holes—just perfect.
I have examined this piece under 10x and 80x magnification and it shows no signs of modern tool marks--only hand tools were used to make this amulet.  It has been cut, incised, shaped, and drilled with ancient hand tools.  I also examined it under Black Light and found no signs of repairs or modern carving.  Modern tools would have drilled the hole straight and true—and not larger on the outer edge of the hole and curved in the middle.  Thus, these ancient, drilled holes are another sign that this amulet is original and authentic.
Its beauty and attention to detail is remarkable! This ancient Amulet is a fine work of art, and it is truly museum quality.
AUTHENTICATION
I have carefully examined this item under magnification, and it shows authentic and original signs of weathering, calcium deposits, and ground contact that help to further authenticate it as an ancient piece.
I also examined it under Black Light and found no signs of repairs or restorations.
Using the experience and knowledge that I have gained from over 50 years of examining and collecting Chinese artifacts, I certify that the above described and pictured item is original and authentic, with a lovely patina that is consistent with its age.
NOTE:  This object is unconditionally guaranteed authentic. It has been legally imported to the United States years ago and is legal to sell and own under U.S. Statute Title 19, Chapter 14, Code 2611,
Convention on Cultural Property.
Please examine the macro photos taken indoors carefully, as they are part of the description.
The stand and AA battery are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
And please ask any questions before you buy.
I GUARANTEE this amulet is ancient and authentic or your money back!
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