The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 11, 2024

Ceremonial Tube (Cong)

Ceremonial Tube (Cong)

c. 1600–1056 BCE
(c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE)
Overall: 20.6 cm (8 1/8 in.)

Did You Know?

The Interior cavity of this piece of jade was bored from both ends, making an irregular ridge near the center.

Description

The cong, a cylindrical tube with a square outer section, was one of the most impressive jade implements used in ancient rites. The ritual text Rites of Zhou mentions the use of the cong for the worship of the earth. However, its function and meaning in the earlier Neolithic societies are not completely understood.
  • ?–1915
    (Dr. John C. Ferguson 福開森 [1866–1945], sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art through H. W. [Henry Watson] Kent [1866–1948])
    1915–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Wilson, J. Keith. "Lithic Art in the Bronze Age: A Jade Dagger-Axe." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 77, no. 1 (1990): 2-35. Mentioned: p. 31, p. 3 www.jstor.org
  • {{cite web|title=Ceremonial Tube (Cong)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1600–1056 BCE|access-date=11 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1915.630