Jade jue with dragon patterns

Jade jue with bird design

Spring and Autumn period
Diameter：4.6 cm
Thickness: 0.2 cm
Unearthed at Xiaoxiguan M1 tomb, in the suburbs of Xinye County, Henan Province.

The jue is a circular piece of jade with a breach. It is the oldest jade ornament in China, mainly used as ear ornament or accessory. Small jade jue are often discovered in pairs near the ears of the dead, like today's earrings Larger ones were ornaments or symbols of authority or credit.