{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O39382"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O39382/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT6139/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT6139/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT6139","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AF6620","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV2765","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O39382/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O39382","accessionNumber":"A.40-1936","objectType":"Cylinder","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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 cm to a mere 3 cm. Tall ‘cong’ were definitely more difficult to make than short ones.\r\n\r\nAn ancient Chinese text called ‘Zhouli’ ('Rites of Zhou') states that the ‘cong’ was used as a sacrifice to the Earth. Archaeology has revealed that it served a ritual function in Neolithic times.","physicalDescription":"Opaque brown. A cong of 17 sections, drilled from both ends, the meeting point in the middle is no more than 3cm in diameter.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nephrite jade","categories":[{"text":"Ceremonial objects","id":"THES48981"},{"text":"Hardstone","id":"THES270137"}],"styles":[{"text":"Neolithic","id":"AAT19267"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT6139","2006AF6620","2017JV2765"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA008","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cylinder (cong)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 3200 BC-2200 BC","earliest":"-3205-01-01","latest":"-2200-01-01"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"40.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cylinder (cong)","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Kerr, Rose (ed.), Chinese Art and Design: the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991.","id":"AUTH404455"},"details":"nr.6 ","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Ming Wilson, 'Liangzhu Jades Rediscovered' in Oriental Art, Winter 1995/96, pp.2-8."}],"production":"Liangzhu culture","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Tube (cong)\r\nStone Age\r\nAbout 2500 BC\r\n\r\nA cong is square in section with a round hole bored through its centre.\r\n\r\nCarved nephrite jade\r\nLiangzhu culture, south China\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.40-1936","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.40-1936"],"accessionNumberNum":"40","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1936,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2000-05-09","availableToBook":false}}