Feb., 1912. 



Jade. 



107 



men in question is identical with just the one employed by the Emperor 

 Shun, and the quotation from the Shu king is to us merely a vehicle of 

 interpretation. Wu Ta-ch'eng remarks in regard to the age of this 

 piece: "Although it is not an object of the Hia dynasty, it is, as 



Fig. 37. 



Lower Face of Astronomical Instrument in Fig. 36. 



shown by an examination of its make-up, not far off from the days of 

 antiquity." 



In this connection we should consider also the next object depicted 

 by Wu Ta-ch'eng and here reproduced in Fig. 38, entitled by him / yii, 

 i. e. Jade of the Tribes called /; this heading is followed by the words : 

 "Some call it pi-liu-li; in its make-up, it is identical with the siian-ki." 



As the discussion of Wu Ta-ch'eng added to this specimen is of 

 particular interest, I let a literal translation of it follow: 



"The piece in question is a ring (huan) ; the color of the jade is yellow 

 like gold, and bright like amber. It is not met with in present collec- 

 tions, but a treasure of greatest rarity; judging from its make-up, it 

 is also of an extraordinary age. In the convex and concave parts 



