三星閃爍　Splendour of Ancient Shu

放大圖片

玉璧　Jade bi,c.1200 BC

三星堆博物館藏(Collection of Sanxingdui Museum)

　通體拋光，中間開孔的兩面周邊凸起。璧的命名來源自《爾雅．釋器》「肉倍好謂之璧」，即按孔徑與邊徑的比例大小來分類命名。璧是中國古代重要的祭祀禮器之一。《周禮》記「以蒼璧禮天，以黃琮禮地」，可見璧是通天的祭祀禮器。

　The entire disc was burnished, with a raised collar on both sides of the central opening. The bi is described in the ancient classic Erya, “when the size of the outer circle is double that of the inner one, the jade object is called bi”. Hence classification of jade bi discs is based on the ratio of the two diameters. The bi was an important ceremonial object in ancient sacrificial rituals. According to another classic, Zhouli, “jade discs” were used to worship the heavens, and “jade cong columns” were used for the earth. Hence the jade bi disc was a ceremonial object for worshipping the heavens.　■資料：香港文化博物館