Jade Burial Objects and Tomb Hierarchy in Yue Aristocratic Graves in Zhejiang during the Late Spring and Autumn to Early Warring States Periods

During the late Spring and Autumn to early Warring States period, a time when arrogation (transgression of burial norms) was prevalent, the number of dragon-shaped jade huang and jade dragon-shaped pendants buried in Tomb D14M5 at Longba, Anji, exceeds that of second-tier tombs. However, an analysis from the perspectives of local burial jade traditions, associated grave goods, and the jade artifacts themselves suggests that this numerical excess cannot be defined as arrogation. It is hypothesized that the discrepancy between the ranking of burial jades and tomb construction may reflect the conspicuous consumption of jades as symbols of wealth in burial customs.