Title: Jade Disc and its Imitations in the Han Mortuary Context

Speaker: Dr. Eileen Lam

Date: Tuesday, February 19th, 2019

Time: 7pm

Language: Cantonese

Register at: visitors@liangyimuseum.com

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One of the most time-honoured Chinese jade objects is the bi disc (a type of circular jade artifact used in burial rituals), which has been used since the Neolithic period. During the Han dynasty (206BC–AD220), jade was closely linked to a belief in immortality, and the mortuary use of jade discs can be found in tombs of all social ranks. Interestingly, discs made of other lesser materials such as glass and wood were also excavated in the same tombs. By looking at the different discoveries of jade disc imitations and relevant ancient records, Dr. Eileen Lam will explore the interpretation of the bi disc and the reasons for adopting representations to replace the real object in Han burials.

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Dr. Eileen Lam is assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong. She received her PhD from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with research interests in jade, tomb art and materiality of art in ancient China.