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Collection of fine works

Jade Pillow
Heritage information

◇ Heritage No. :

◇ Collection Name:Jade Pillow

◇ Historical date:Western Han dynasty

◇ Collection Size:Length: 35.5 cm. Width: 7.8 cm. Height: 9.5 cm.

◇ Collection Source:Excavated from the tomb of the king of Chu at Shizishan

Introduction of cultural relics



The jade pillow was unearthed in a tomb of the king of Chu in Shizishan. It was named as the jade pillow because of a square bronze seal with the character of "Shiguanjianyin" (made by food official). The jade pillow is like a bench. It consists of three parts: occipital foot, occipital plate and animal headdress. The occipital plate is a rectangular wooden pillow core, set with 35 pieces of carved exquisite dragon shape, rectangular pieces and "Ya" shaped jade pieces. The two ends of the pillow are jade ornaments in the shape of beast head. The pillow leg is slightly shaped like "Gong". This kind of jade pillow is also unearthed in the west of the king of Chu's tomb, the 5th side chamber and other accompanying tombs. The user should be the king of Chu and his concubine. The whole jade pillow is exquisitely carved, showily and elegantly, revealing the user's noble identity. In addition, a similar jade pillow was unearthed from the tomb of king Jibei of West Han dynasty in Shuangrushan, Shandong province. The jade pillow was composed of 18 pieces of jade, including the core board, the jade pillow foot, the jade base plate, the jade panel and the animal headpiece. The combination mode of each part is as follows: the panel and bottom plate are pasted on the top and bottom of the core board respectively; the two pieces of animal headpieces are respectively combined with the two end faces of the core board by perforating mortises at the inner end section; the occipital foot is also inserted on the bottom of the core board at both ends of the jade bottom board in the same way; the side board is pasted on both sides of the core board. Since the jade pillow unearthed in Jibei king's tomb was kept in its original position, and its combination mode was relatively clear and credible, which has important reference significance for us to understand the structure and restoration of the jade pillow unearthed in king Chu's tomb in Shizishan.