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JADE BI WITH HEAVENLY LEOPARDS HAN DYNASTY 206 BC - 220 AD Diameter: 9.25 inches ( 24 cm )
This Bi, carved in dark green jade, is a remarkable elaboration of the concept of the Bi as a representation of the sky or heavens. It is unusual in that the two sides are carved with different images. Typically, both sides would be the same. On this Bi, each side represents a different stage of the sky and associated myths. The obverse shows two rings of symbols. The outer ring is filled with young, immature Heavenly Leopards. The inner ring, closest to the center hole and separated by a rope carving, shows many “seed clouds”, representing immature clouds. The reverse side shows these symbols in their mature forms. The entire surface is filled with mature Heavenly Leopards cavorting among a field of fully formed clouds. One Leopard even peeks through the center hole, indicating that it came from the other side. Thus, the immature forms transform into fully mature entities as they move from the front to the back. This is a wonderful elaboration of the concept of the Bi representing the sky, and suggests that the carver, in addition to being a master artist, also had a sense of humor.
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