The earliest Chinese religion was essentially astronomical and cosmic.
Heaven, earth, and the four quarters were the six cosmic powers worshiped
as deities. The symbol of earth was a yellow jade “tube” or hollow
cylinder, round inside and square outside, with a short, projecting neck
at either end. The earth was thought of as round in its interior and
square outside. The jade earth “tube” or “huang t’sung” in our collection
is a very ancient piece, possibly dating from the Chou period (1122-255
B.C.). To the Sung period (960-1280 A. D.) may be assigned the beautiful
jade reproduced in the illustration, although the type is reminiscent of
Han productions.
[Painting attributed to Pien Chin-Stan]