Ge-type Celadon Cong-form Vase with Bagua Motif

This vase mimics the shape of a Cong—a jade ritual object from the Neolithic age used to worship the earth. Square on the outside but round inside, the Cong symbolizes “Round Heaven, Square Earth”. Emperor Qianlong, a lover of ancient jades and Song ceramics, combined this shape with Song-dynasty Ge-ware glaze.

The Craftsmanship

The vase combines a circular upper section with a square lower body. The four sides feature raised Bagua symbols, the eight trigrams representing all natural phenomena. The body is coated with a celadon glaze imitating Ge-ware, famous for its “golden threads and iron wires”—a network of fine crackles. The foot is coated brown to imitate “iron foot”, and the base features an underglaze blue mark.