西汉（公元前206—公元8年）
长2.2厘米 宽0.9厘米
White jade gang mao and yan mao charms (pairs)
Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 8)
Length 2.2 cm, Width 0.9 cm

These jade rectangular pillar-shaped charms are each pierced with a hole. All four sides are inscribed with incantations to ward off sickness and evil, and to pray for well being and blessing. They were worn to help repel evil spirits. Pairs of gang mao and yan mao charms are very rare, the red cinnabar in the inscribed characters adds to the already high value of these pairs. XU CHUNLING