Quadrangular vase in the form of a Neolithic ritual jade object (cong)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The shape of this tube derives from that of Neolithic jade forms known as cong, and its reappearance in metalwork centuries later is typical of the fascination with earlier cultures that marked the twelfth and the thirteenth centuries. The precise function and meaning of the early jade cong remains a subject for debate.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art