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Xuanji
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Wade-Giles romanization:
hsüan-chi
Related Topics:
Chinese jade
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Xuanji

Chinese jade
Also known as: hsüan-chi
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

Xuanji, Chinese jade form found in the Shang (c. 1600–1046 bc) and Zhou (1046–256 bc) dynasties. It is a flat disk similar in shape to the bi, except that the outer edge is broken into an irregular serration of major and minor projecting teeth, much like a circular saw blade. It has been suggested that the xuanji may have been used as an astronomical instrument to plot the location of the stars, possibly in conjunction with another jade object, the cong.