A RARE BLACK JADE 'TIGER' TALLY MING DYNASTY OR EARLIER 墨玉虎...

A RARE BLACK JADE 'TIGER' TALLY MING DYNASTY OR EARLIER 墨玉虎符 明或更早 each half of the tally is carved in the form of a recumbent tiger, the interior with a large 'tong' ('the same') character 5.5cm long PROVENANCE: From the Ian Rutherford Collection of Chinese Jade Animals. Acquired from Prof. Harrold Tooby, May 1992 NOTE: This is a very rare piece, known as a 'tally', designed to overcome the threat of espionage and betrayal. A messenger carried one half, and only when the recipient's carving tallied, was the message accepted as genuine. S. Owen, 'An Anthology of Chinese Literature', New York, 1996, p. 148 relays a story about the betrayal of King Zao of Wei (278 - 243 BC). He had a tally to authorise Jin Bi, his General, to use his troops; but his son, Prince of Wei, persuaded Lady Ru, who enjoyed the kings favours to steal his tally from the King's bed chamber.

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