3D Gallery of the IHP

This jade rabbit was unearthed in a sacrificial pit 49 of the Royal Tomb M1550, Hsi-pei-kang.Unlike most of the human sacrificial victims whose heads and bodies were buried separately at different places after being beheaded, in this sacrificial pit, the human sacrifices were buried with their body and head in one place with burial goods, which is unusual. There were bronze wares of 1 ku beaker, 1 Chüeh cup, 1 ting caudron, jade wares of Chüeh slitted disk, ke dagger and so on as burial goods for this sacrificer. Based on the numerous bone and jade hairpins around the head, it is speculated that the tomb owner may be a woman.

The jade rabbit is a light yellowish green color. It is delicate, sleek, and translucent with banded brown inclusion. The whole body is rectangular in shape with one side flat and the other side slightly curved. The legs of the rabbit are tucked under the body. Its eyes, ears, nose and paws are raised by engraving the surface with two parallel lines on both sides of the jade rabbit. Its body is also decorated with engraved two parallel lines patterns. There are 3 holes: one both-sides-bored hole goes from the chin of the rabbit to the bottom of the tail; another is between the forefeet which is form by a groove underneath; another one is at the back side, above the hind leg, that goes diagonally and meets the hole which is bored from the chin to the tail.

It is not easy to establish the details of the holes. This model is for reference only.