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Oxhorn Clam

This shell does not look particularly special at first sight. Yet, early modern Chinese people thought that it resembles the horn of an ox. One of these ox horn clams was found on the shores in southern China and presented as a gift to the emperor.

Stories

  • Not Just a Clam

    story by Anna Grasskamp.

    This story shows how this shell found its way into the 1698 <em>Haicuo tu</em> 海錯圖 (Illustrated Catalogue of Marine Creatures) of the Qing dynasty. The shell does not look particularly special at first sight. Yet, people considered it special enough to present as a gift to a Qing Emperor.

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