Jade Bi and Gui: A Reconfirmation on Zhouli Completed in the Early Years of Han Dynasty Based on Sacrificial Ceremony

摘要

As an classical book which disputes endlessly on the completed time but systematic and detailed record on official function, rituals and sacrificial vessels, Zhouli (Rites of Zhou) has become a paradoxical existence: on the one hand, it’s a crucial reference document frequently quoted for reconstructing the propriety in the past dynasties and explaining the ritual remains in modern archeology;on the other hand, its authenticity and edition age are always questioned. So the completed time of Zhouli is still a bottleneck problem and cannot be ignored. This article focuses on the tradition of sacrificial jade Bi and Gui based on the written documents and archeological findings, demonstrate once again that Zhouli was completed in early Han dynasty.