A YELLOW JADE AND RUSSET ‘CLOUD-SCROLL’ ORNAMENT 新石器时期 红山文化 黃玉勾云佩 China, Neolithic period, Hongshan culture Size.12.2x5.1cm Note The hook-and-cloud-shaped jade pendant is a representative artifact from the Hongshan culture of Neolithic China (circa 4000–2500 BCE), primarily unearthed in burial sites across present-day Inner Mongolia and Liaoning. Characterized by its abstract, curling form reminiscent of drifting clouds, this type of jade ornament is often found near the chest of the deceased, suggesting its ritual or symbolic significance. Scholars generally believe the pendant may have served multiple functions. Firstly, it likely acted as a ritual object used by shamans or tribal leaders to communicate with deities or spirits. Secondly, due to its perforated design, it may have been worn as a decorative pendant, symbolizing status or identity. Thirdly, the stylized cloud motifs possibly held protective or apotropaic meaning, embodying beliefs in warding off evil and invoking spiritual connection with the heavens. Expertly carved with fluid lines and delicate symmetry, these pendants reflect the advanced jade-working techniques of the Hongshan people and offer deep insight into their religious beliefs, aesthetic sensibilities, and cosmological worldview.