122 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. X. 



fies the continuation of his after-life existence in partnership with 

 the gods of his former life. Man himself is only part of this cosmos 

 and the product of cosmical effects; so he remains also in the grave 

 under the ruling influence of these cosmic powers as on earth. 



It is therefore impossible to separate, in a consideration of this 

 subject, 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. We shall treat first of the images of 

 Earth as the most significant of all, then of those of Heaven and the 

 Cardinal Points. 



i. Jade Images and Symbols of the Deity Earth 



The three specimens illustrated on Plate XV, Figs. 1-3, though 

 differing in dimensions and proportions, belong to the same type. 

 They are based on the same geometrical construction and may be denned 

 as tubes or cylinders to which four salient triangular prisms are attached 

 in such a way as to form a rectangular wall around. The Chinese 

 express this much simpler by saying that they are square or angular 

 outside and round inside. The cylinder overlaps the quadrangular 

 part on both ends and appears there as a projecting rim or lip. The 

 piece in Fig. 1 consists of a much decomposed grayish-green jade, in 

 color much resembling a very light seladon glaze. The entire surface 

 inside and outside is full of fissures and cracks filled with hardened 

 lime and loess, and corrosion has altered the stone into a very soft 

 material. It is 5.8-5.9 cm high; the width of the sides varies between 

 7 and 7.3 cm; the circle of the cylinder is imperfect, the diameter vary- 

 ing from 5.6 to 6 cm. To judge from its appearance and, as will be seen, 

 also on the ground of historical evidence, this and the next specimen 

 are justly ascribed to the Chou period (b. c. 1122-255). The latter 

 (Fig. 2, Plate XV) is very much veined like agate or marble, white 

 with reddish-yellow stripes and spots, 1 but has the smooth polish of 

 ancient jade. It is only 4 cm high, 6.7 cm wide with a diameter of 

 5.5 cm. 



The third specimen of this type (Fig. 3, Plate XV) is much smaller 

 than the two others, 4.1 cm high, 3.6 cm wide, and 2.8 cm in diameter 

 at the opening; the projecting lips are wider here than in the two others. 

 Another peculiar feature is formed by two crescent-shaped incisions 

 inside, just about 1 cm below the rim, the one opposite the other, in 

 appearance like thumb-nail impressions, the one cut in, the other cut 



1 This is doubtless the same color as described by the Chinese under the name 

 "yellow" in connection with the jade objects called ts'ung, as will be seen farther on. 



