Zoo-anthropomorphic Jade Earring (Chinese: 人獸形玉耳飾, 人獸形玉器, 人獸形玉玦; pinyin: rén-shòu-xíng-yù-ěr-shì, rén-shòu-xíng-yù-qì, rén-shòu-xíng-yù-jué) is a jade ornament design that dates back to the Neolithic Period in Taiwan. Specimens of this design are believed to have been worn as a pendant on the ears, given its notches and the evidence from unearthed contexts[1]: 148 .[2] The design features two human figures with their hands on their waists and their legs spread wide apart. On top of their heads is a beast that resembles a cat, pig, or deer. The feet of the beast are connected to the heads of the human figures. While there are variations, including single-person or multiple-ring designs, jade pendants of this design are primarily found in Taiwan.[3]
| Zoo-anthropomorphic jade earring | |
|---|---|
 Zoo-Anthropomorphic Jade Earring (National Treasure) collected in the
National Museum of Prehistory | |
| Material | Jade |
| Size | length: 6.9 cm width: 3.9 cm |
| Created | c. 600 BC |
| Discovered | 1984 Taiwan |
| Present location | Taitung City, Taitung, Taiwan |
Records of Discoveries
editZoo-anthropomorphic jade earrings have been discovered across Taiwan, primarily in the northern and eastern regions. They have been found in archaeological sites associated with the Peinan (卑南), Huakangshan (花岡山), Yuanshan (圓山), and Wanshan (萬山) cultures. In total, there have been 41 findings across 9 archaeological sites, including 14 in the Chihshanyan Site in Taipei; 6 in the Peinan Site in Taitung, and 1 in Shihtiping Site, Hualien; 4 in Kangkou Site, Hualien; 1 in Takeng Site, Hualien; 1 in Wanshan Site, Yilan; 2 in Chula Site, Pintung; 1 in Sanpaopi Site, Tainan; and 1 in Shisanhang Site, New Taipei City.[4][5]
National Treasure Designation
editOne zoo-anthropomorphic jade earring, unearthed from the Peinan Site in 1984, was designated as a national treasure in 2012.[6] It is now housed in the National Museum of Prehistory. The earring was discovered in a slate coffin along with other burial goods such as spearheads, tube beads, adzes, chisels and other burial goods. It is believed to have originated from a grand coffin with multiple burials, and dates back to approximately 2,800 to 2,300 years ago (B.P.; or 851-351 BC).
The human figures are intricately carved in an openwork style and stand on a horizontal plate attached to mastoids. The head and tail of the beast point skyward, although its body was fragmented before burial. There is a previously-repaired hole in the fragmented portion. The earring measures 69 mm in length, 39 mm in width, and 4.5mm in thickness. It weighs 17g.[7][8]
Scholars speculate that the beast may represent the ancestral animal or totem symbolizing the tribe's origin. Alternatively, it could symbolize the successful hunting endeavors and the honorable return of the hunters[7][9].
In 2015, the zoo-anthropomorphic jade earrings were depicted on a Taiwanese stamp.[10]
Additional source
edit走讀臺灣✕走讀史前：追隨風暴之子的履跡 READ TAIWAN✕READ PREHISTORY: Follow the Footsteps of Vali on YouTube
References
edit- ^ 宋文薰 (Sung Wen-Hsun); 連照美 (Lien Chao-Mei) (1984). "臺灣史前時代人獸形玉玦耳飾 (Zoo-anthropomorphic Jade Earring [jué] in Prehistoric Taiwan)". 國立臺灣大學考古人類學刊 (Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology) (44). 國立臺灣大學人類學系 (Department of Anthropology, National Taiwan University): 148–169.
- ^ 劉益昌 (Liu Yi-Chang) (2009-09-24). "人獸形玉玦". 臺灣大百科全書. 文化部. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ 何傳坤 (Ho Chuan-Kun). "台灣考古誌：台灣新石器時代遺址中發現人獸形玉器". 國立自然科學博物館. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
- ^ 江美英 (Chiang Mei-Yin) (2015). "臺灣出土玉器的技與藝——兼談古物分級 (The Craftsmanship and Artistry of Jade Artifacts Excavated in Taiwan: On Issues of Antiquity Classification)" (PDF). 美學與視覺藝術學刊 (7): 77–94.
- ^ 黃翠梅 (Huang Tsui-mei) (2021). "玉見史前臺灣－側身動物形突玉玦和人獸形玉玦". 前世今生臺灣玉. 國立臺灣博物館 (National Taiwan Museum).
- ^ "人獸形玉玦". 國家文化資產網. 文化部文化資產局.
- ^ a b 夏麗芳 (Hsia Li-Fang) (2003-07-01). "〈人獸形玉耳飾〉". 發現史前館電子報 (14). 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (National Museum of Prehistory).
- ^ "人獸形玉玦". 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (in Chinese). 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ 葉美珍 (Yeh Mei-Chen) (2010). "臺灣東海岸出土獸形玉飾初步研究". 2009南島國際學術研討會論文集. 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (National Museum of Prehistory).
- ^ "Taiwan issues postage stamps on prehistoric artifacts". www.moc.gov.tw. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-06.