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- Title
A jade parrot from the tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu and Liao sacrifices of the Shang Dynasty.
- Authors
Wang, Rong; Wang, Chang-sui; Tang, Ji-gen
- Abstract
The importance of jade in the burnt offerings of the Shang Dynasty known as ‘Liao sacrifice’ has long been known from documentary evidence, but has yet to be scientifically verified. We present the results of non-destructive analyses of a jade parrot excavated from the tomb of imperial consort Fu Han at Yinxu in Henan Province. Analyses revealed the presence of diopside, an outcome of phase transition from tremolite resulting from heating in antiquity. This provides the first scientific evidence that the Shang Dynasty used jade in Liao sacrifice, and confirms oracle bone inscriptions and later records concerning the ritual.
- Subjects
JADE; SACRIFICE; SHANG dynasty, China, 1766-1122 B.C.; KINGS &; rulers; DIOPSIDE; TREMOLITE; CHINESE antiquities; FU, Hao, d. ca. 1200 B.C.; TOMBS
- Publication
Antiquity, 2018, Vol 92, Issue 362, p368
- ISSN
0003-598X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.15184/aqy.2017.220