Period: Warring States period (475-221 BCE)
Measurements: L.22 cm, W.3.7 cm, Thk. 0.4 cm
Provenance: Unearthed from the No.16 tomb at Pingliangtai of Huaiyang, Zhoukou, 1979

The jade pendant was created in the form of a “looking backward” dragon, with body bent, tail raised. The contour of the dragon was carved with lines, and the body was carved in openwork and adorned with grain patterns.

Pingliangtai was an ancient urban ruin of the Longshan culture, and served as the burial complex after being abandoned in the Warring State period. The No. 16 burial pit is the largest Chu tomb unearthed at the site, which yielded 35 jade objects, including 11 dragon-shaped pendants, of which the present piece, together with second piece which was in identical form and texture, was discovered under the left side of the tomb occupant's pelvis, both are larger than other dragon-shaped examples.

The scale of the tomb, along with the set of nine gray pottery Ding tripod cauldrons, chime bells, chime stones, and jade objects suggests that the tomb was likely a high-grade burial for a noble.