Feb., 1912. 



Jade. 



105 



tion at the outer side. Each of these three divisions is indented in such 

 a way that six small teeth of irregular shape l project over the edge leav- 

 ing five slightly curved notches in their interstices. It will further be 

 noticed that these three divisions are treated much alike in their meas- 

 urements, that the protruding teeth and their interstices bear the same 



Fig. 36. 

 Jade Astronomical Instrument stian-ki. 



shape and measurements in each section, and that the total of teeth is 

 arranged in the same distance from the ends of each section which on 

 the one side is double that of the other side. As number and measure- 

 ment plays such a significant part in all these ancient jade pieces, we 

 are justified in concluding that also here a well meditated symbolism 

 is intended, that the main division of the circle into three parts, the 

 six teeth and the five notches as well as their regular formations and the 

 regular proportions of all parts must have a peculiar meaning. Each 



l Wu Ta-ch'eng calls them kua (Giles No. 6288) "nocks of an arrow." 



