Chinese Bi or Archaic Disc

A broad stone wheel with a neat hole through its heart.

This bi or archaic disc comes from China and is carved from hardstone. The bi is one of the oldest forms in Chinese art, a flat disc with a central opening, and is often associated with heaven and with ritual offerings, though its original meaning remains debated. This example is wide and thin, the surface polished in places and weathered in others. Cream, tan and rust tones mottle the stone, with a lighter patch along the upper edge. It rests in a black metal stand. It is 11.75 inches in diameter.

A circle, a hole, and several thousand years of commentary.