图示瓷器现藏于日本 (1127-1279年 高19.7cm)此琮造型，源于古老齐家文化玉文明，其特点是外部呈现方形，内部圆孔状。这种造型符合中国古代阴阳学说---天圆地方。

天圆地方是阴阳学说的一种体现，中国传统文化，博大精深，阴阳学说乃其核心和精髓部分。阴阳学说，具有朴素的辩证法色彩，是中国先哲们认识世界的思维方式，几千年的社会实践证明了它的正确性，天圆地方是这种学说的一种体现。

中国古人把天地未分、浑沌初起之状称为太极，太极生两仪，就划出了阴阳，分出了天地。把由众多星体组成的茫茫宇宙称为天，把立足其间赖以生存的田土称为地，由于日月等天体都是在周而复始、永无休止地运动，好似一个闭合的圆周无始无终，而大地却静悄悄地在那里承载着我们，恰如一个方形的物体静止稳定，于是“天圆地方”的概念便由此产生。

琮的中心圆孔通道部分，古人理解为人死后灵魂的升天路径，而此件官窑琮却被发现主人用来做插花用，其使用方法足以令古人惊讶和不解。

Chinese Southern Song Dynasty Guanware Cong-form Vase

The shape of the Cong vase originates in the jade civilization of Qijia Culture in ancient China. It is characterized by square section and a circular mouth, which is consistent with Yin-Yang theory in ancient China---The sky is round and the earth is square.

"sky round earth square" concept is an embodiment of Yin-Yang theory, which is the essence of Chinese extensive and profound traditional culture. The theory, with an idea of Naive Dialectic, is a mode of thinking for Chinese sages to recognize the world, and thousands of years of social practices have proved its correctness.

The ancient Chinese refer to the condition when Heaven and Earth have not been separated from chaos as Taiji. Then Taiji gives birth to two forms, named Yin and Yang, and heaven and earth are separated. The ancient Chinese refer to the vast universe composed of many stars as Heaven while the land they live on and by as Earth. Since the stars like the Sun and the Moon are perpetually moving in cycles just like a closed circle without beginning and end, while the earth is silently carrying us just as a square still and steady object, and thus "sky round earth square" concept comes into being.

The center circular hole is regarded by ancient people as the way to Heaven for the soul after death. However, this Guanware Cong is used for flower arrangement by its owner, which is enough to surprise and puzzle ancient Chinese.