ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cong

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈkɔŋ// cong Archaic

n. a type of ancient Chinese object made of jade that is shaped like a tube with a square outside and a round hole inside. These were often buried with important people thousands of years ago.

n. a form of ancient Chinese jade artifact consisting of a rectangular or square outer section with a hollow cylindrical interior. Typically associated with the Liangzhu culture, these objects are found in funerary contexts and are thought to represent cosmological or ritual significance.


SIMPLE

The museum displayed a beautifully carved jade cong.

CONTEXTUAL

Archaeologists discovered several jade cong placed around the head and feet of the deceased in the Neolithic tomb.

COMPLEX

The intricate masks carved into the corners of the jade cong suggest a sophisticated level of craftsmanship and a complex system of religious beliefs during the Liangzhu period.

Usage

Often appears in archaeological or art historical texts; the plural can be either 'cong' or 'congs'.

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