{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/2/context.json","@type":"sc:Manifest","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/manifest","label":"gaa_nephrite-bi-disc_355","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_nephrite-bi-disc_355"},{"label":"Citation","value":"Object Name, Date Original (if known), GettDigital: Asian Art Collection, Special Collections / Musselman Library, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Access Date, Link to Item"},{"label":"Repository","value":"Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College"},{"label":"Inventory Number","value":"355"},{"label":"Part of","value":["Asian Art GettDigital Collection"]},{"label":"Provenance","value":"The Estate of Prof. Frank Kramer; Obtained by Kramer from Dr. Frank Clutz' collection."},{"label":"Genre","value":["Artifacts"]},{"label":"Object Location","value":"J.5"},{"label":"Date","value":"D:00 M:00 Y:220"},{"label":"Date Original","value":"206 BCE-220 CE (or earlier)"},{"label":"Era","value":["Attributed to the Han dynasty"]},{"label":"Measurement","value":"Outer Diameter: 4.1 cm; inner Diameter: 1.2 cm; Thickness: 5 mm"},{"label":"Medium","value":["Nephrite","Other stones"]},{"label":"Country of Origin","value":["China"]},{"label":"Description","value":"Jade is clearly a subject that we are only on the threshold of understanding. Many, if not most early jades were made to be clasped in the hand on solemn occasions. On numerous treasures unearthed from Chinese soil are all the luck-bringing emblems of the Middle Ages' well-fingered jades such as discs, rings, masks, tablets, ornaments, amulets, and so forth, that have survived wars and natural disasters. The old cosmic tokens were sometimes unfortunately altered, ornamented, incised, or tricked into something different from their original design to suit people's tastes of certain epoch; particularly for the collectors of the Qing period who loved elaborate and unusual artifacts that added to the confusion. I speculate many traditions that caused and affected the very unusual shape of this jade pi disc. It may be a paradigm of how Daoism influenced the arts of China; it may be one of the earlier evidences of the introduction of Buddhism into China in the first century A.D.; or it may derive from both beliefs that have immensely influenced plastic art in general and deflected the jade carver from his old courses. Worst of all was the rise of later dynasties to power when the jade tradition became further adulterated by foreign influences. Among the artifacts in the Kramer's Asian Art Collection, this bi disc is probably the most obscure and the most challenging. It is something of a mystery. The research has combed through all the resources available yet, so far, none of the discs or any tomb goods has the same shape. It may be an archaism. Alternatively, it may be a descendant of the earliest bi. It stands as a mute witness to the loss of real significance that is so common in studying Chinese artifacts. This archaic form of the jade bi disc is an auspicious symbol of Heaven.* It is carved out of a light green nephrite that contains some light brown markings that are perhaps an effect natural weathering. The most peculiar aspect of this carving is the unusual tapering segment on the side of the outer circle like the half-shape of the yin and yang symbol. At one end of this section is a small white, chalky brown area that invades the otherwise firm substance. This is called calcification or tzin. The outer circle is not perfectly round, as in the case of Neolithic jade bi discs. The rims of the outer circle and perforation are slightly embossed. The surface is adorned with irregular c-shaped scrolls. The carving technique prior to the Han period was crude since instruments used in jade cutting and carving had yet been devised. The uneven surface and thickness of the whole piece and the imperfect circles provide evidence that it may have been carved by the Han period or later."},{"label":"Title","value":"Nephrite Bi disc"},{"label":"Rights","value":"Materials available through GettDigital encompass a wide range of works, many of which are in the public domain. However, some items may still be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for determining the copyright status of materials and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws when reproducing or publishing these works. Items in our GettDigital Collections are for educational use. For assistance in understanding rights, obtaining permissions, or requesting files for publication or research purposes, please contact us at <a href=\"www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist\">www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist</a>"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/634"}],"description":"Nephrite Bi disc","sequences":[{"@type":"sc:Sequence","canvases":[{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/canvas/_1","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"Nephrite Bi disc","height":768,"width":510,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":512,"scaleFactors":[1,2]}]},"height":768,"width":510},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/canvas/_1","metadata":[]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}}]}],"thumbnail":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c3e05438-693c-477a-ab05-db66354745a6/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","logo":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/logo"}