Other Bronze in National Palace Museum, part3

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of other bronze artifacts from the Song dynasty! Here, you can explore some of the most beautiful and intricate bronze vessels from this time period. We have a variety of different pieces on display here, including a Lei wine vessel with goat-head high reliefs and knob pattern, Ting Vessel with Inscription of the Zhenghe period, Gui food container with square base and phoenix pattern, Zun wine vessel to Yi the grandfather and Square Ding cauldron of Marquis of Kang. These are all important pieces in Chinese history that tell us about the culture and rituals during this time period. Come take a look at these fascinating artifacts today!

1. Lei wine vessel with goat-head high reliefs and knob pattern

This vessel has a tapered mouth, and round shoulders around which goat heads in high relief, flat bird patterns in relief, and patterns of kui dragons with lowered heads are decorated. The belly of the vessel is completely covered by nipple patterns with linked hooks, round spiral patterns, and four-petaled flower patterns. On the exterior walls of the belly, hook-shaped flanges can be seen, and the decorative features of this vessel show southern regional influences.

2. Ting Vessel with Inscription of the Zhenghe period

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3. Gui food container with square base and phoenix pattern

Gui vessels and ding cauldrons were important types of bronze food containers often used together. Cauldrons used to hold meat, while gui vessels held cooked rice, maize, and other grains. Based on their feet, bronze "gui" from the Shang and Zhou dynasties can be divided into five types:round, square, four feet, three feet, and raised round base. Square-base gui were most popular in the early Western Zhou period, when they were produced in a wide range of forms and decorated with rich and beautiful patterns. They are an excellent example of the cultural importance attached to food in the ritual systems of the Western Zhou dynasty. Scholars believe that there are slightly more than 100 square-base gui in existence today, most of which were unearthed in the western area of lower Wei River valley from some of the larger graves discovered there, indicating that of the many forms of ritual vessels, square-base "gui" held a high status. The shape of this work was based on the double-handled, round circular-base gui from the late Shang dynasty, though here a square base was added below the form. This style ensured that bronze gui in the early Western Zhou dynasty were taller and more imposing than those of the late Shang dynasty. It also explains why whereas in the late Shang dynasty ceremonial vessels tended to focus more on wine, in the early Western Zhou period the vessels began to reflect a greater attention on food. This style of vessel decoration reveals the prevalent style of the early Western Zhou period. The shape and decoration of the vessel handles is special:18 water buffalo heads in relief. The extensive use of water buffalo heads to decorate the handles and square base of the gui was a popular style for bronze ceremonial vessels in the area around the royal capital (near modern-day Baoji City)

4. Zun wine vessel to Yi the grandfather

This vessel is cylindrical with a flared mouth, a rotund belly, and a high ring foot. It is decorated with four openwork flanges, two sets of string patterns, and animal mask patterns. The inscription reads, "Zuo Zu Yi Bao Zun Yi (Treasured Zun Wine Vessel Commissioned for Yi the Grandfather)."

5. Square Ding cauldron of Marquis of Kang

The vessel is a ritual vessel commissioned by Marquis of Kang, named Fong 封, who according to historical documents was an uncle of King Cheng and the youngest brother of the King's father.