Cylinders
2800-1900 BC
Museum nos. A40, 46, 50-1936

A cong is a jade cylinder that is square on the outside with a round perforation in the middle. The outside walls are usually divided into sections by horizontal cuts in the four corners. The height of cong varies drastically, ranging from 49 centimetres to a mere 3 centimetres, and tall cong were definitely more difficult to make than short ones. An ancient Chinese text called 'The Rites of Zhou' states that the cong was used as a sacrifice to the earth. Archaeology has revealed that cong served a ritual function in neolithic times.

These cylinders have carvings of lines and cirlces on the square edges.