Introduction to Several Bronze Wares
“Zhao”Bronze You (wine vessel)
The vessel is straight and cylindrical with a flat base and a semi-ringed handle attached to the lower rim of the mouth. The entire body of the vessel is decorated with dragon and cloud-and-thunder motifs. The interior of the vessel is inscribed with a 7-line, 44-character inscription that describes a reward of “Fang Wu Shi Li” (625 square kilometers) of land from the Zhou king to Zhao, the maker of the vessel. The inscription reflects a different land system to the “Hou Yu Mou” (being a vassal in a certain place)model of enfeoffment, and reflects another aspect of the way land was distributed in the early Western Zhou Dynasty.
“King Fuchai of Wu” Bronze Jian
A jian is a vessel that can be used for holding water or frozen food. Large-sized jian were also used as ritual vessels or display vessels. This specimen has an open mouth, square lips, folded edge, contracted neck, deep and bulging belly, and a flat bottom. On both sides of the neck there are double-ringed handles with animal head designs. The edge of the mouth between the two handles is decorated with an embossed tiger on either side. Each tiger is clawing on the edge of the vessel,their bodies arched and heads peaking over the rim. The body of the jian is decorated with three dense panhui (a kind of cobra) designs, the bottom is decorated with triangle designs, and the interior is decorated with panhui designs as well. There is an inscription of 13 character in two lines on the inside wall of the jian, indicating that it was made by King Fuchai of Wu.
In the late Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Wu became powerful and prosperous. In 506 BC, He Lu, the King of Wu, defeated the state of Chu. His son Fuchai later conquered the state of Yue, forcing Gou Jian, the Prince of Yue, to surrender and sue for peace. Marching northward, Fuchai fought for hegemony with the state of Jin. However, in 473 BC the state of Wu was surprisingly defeated by Yue, and Fuchai subsequently committed suicide.
“Song” Bronze Hu (wine vessel)
“Ce Ming” was the official appointment and removal system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. There is an inscription on the inner wall of the neck of this pot, which records in more detail the canonization of Song by the King of Zhou, describing the canonization ceremony, the giftsbestowed and other details. These materialscan be mutually verified with the relevant records in the “The Rites of Zhou,” “Chun Qiu Zuo Zhuan” and other historical documents.This bbronze hu has precious historical value.
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