Feb., 191 2. Jade. 39 



wade, 1.4 cm thick). It is shown in front (a) and side-view (b). It is 

 grouped here with a bronze chisel (Fig. 2), trapezoidal in section (10.2 

 cm long), with long socket, to show the close agreement in form between 

 the stone and metal chisels. 



The stone (presumably jadeite) represented in Fig. 3 of Plate VI 

 has been found in a grave of the Han period in the village Wan-ls'un 

 west of Si-ngan. Nothing is known about the manner of its use in the 

 grave. The Chinese call it "blood-stone" from the peculiar blood-red 

 color covering the greater part of the upper surface, which besides shows 

 layers of a deep black and along the left side a portion of a jade-white 

 tinge. The lower face and the edge are black over which an indistinct 

 stratum of red is strewn. The natural form of the stone is evidently 

 preserved in it, and besides the high polishing, the effect of human work 

 is visible in the deeply cut incision in the upper right corner where 

 one small triangular piece has been sawn out. The traces of the saw are 

 distinctly visible; the sawing was done along the slanting portion, and 

 after sawing through, the piece was broken out, as can be recognized 

 from the rough, irregular surface of the horizontal plane, while the 

 slanting plane is smooth. Beside this, there is a shallow depression 

 made rough which might have served for the insertion of the thumb, 

 indicating that this stone was used as an implement for battering or 

 pounding, the triangular point being held below; but the nature of the 

 incision remains unexplained. I believe that the workman had some 

 plan in mind of sawing and grinding this piece into shape ; the beginning 

 of his activity is here shown, and for some unknown reason, he was 

 stopped or prevented from continuing his work. The implement is 

 7 cm long, 5.5. cm wide, and 1.6- 1.9 cm thick. The blood-red color 

 is explained by the Chinese as having originated from the blood of the 

 corpse penetrating into the stone, 1 which is certainly fanciful. 



The large jade knife in Fig. 1 , Plate VIII , is a unique specimen of extra- 

 ordinary dimensions, unfortunately broken in two pieces when found, two 

 fragments being lost, without detracting from the possibility of realizing 

 the original form. It is of rectangular trapezoidal shape, measuring 

 in length over the central perforation 35 cm, over the back 34 cm, over 

 the cutting edge 36.9 cm; the upper edge is 13.5 cm long, the lower 

 11 cm; the width varies between 11 and 13.2 cm, being 11.8 cm in the 

 middle, on account of the concave cutting edge curved inwardly. The 

 blade is 1.7 cm wide in the central portion and gradually diminishes in 

 width towards both sides; it shows the same form and dimensions on 

 both faces and the same angle of inclination. The thickness is only 



1 This view is expressed also by many authors, e. g. in the Wu li siao shih by Fang 

 I-chih (edition o£ 1884), Ch. 7, p. 15 a. 



