Small but mighty exhibition celebrates Bronze Age glory
Print Edition
ALTHOUGH small in scale, the special exhibition, titled “The Perpetual Prosperity” featuring 21 bronze ding vessels donated to the Shanghai Museum in the past seven decades since its establishment in 1952, is no doubt one of the must-see exhibitions in the city this year.
Used as cooking pots reserved for offerings of food to ancestors, ding was traditionally a symbol of the state, especially during the Bronze Age of China from the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to the Warring States Period (476-221 BC). And those with inscriptions were meant to teach future generations the virtues of their ancestors.
As a tribute to the centenary of the Communist Party of China, the reunion of Da Yu Ding and Da Ke Ding donated by the Pan family at the Shanghai Museum is a signature highlight.
Da Yu Ding (for Nobleman Yu) dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) during the reign of King Kang, and Da Ke Ding (for Royal Chef Ke) the reign of King Xiao. Both carry inscriptions on the inner wall, which are important resources for studying the politics and economy of Western Zhou society.
The two grand ding, unearthed in Shaanxi Province in the 19th century, were collected and treasured by the Pan family in Suzhou since the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) for generations.
During the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s, Ding Suzhen, widow of Pan Chengjing — the only heir in the Pan family, took it upon herself to safeguard the family treasures.
She hid the ding in a space underneath her living room with the help of two loyal servants. Though the Japanese repeatedly raided the Pan house for the famous collection, they never found it.
To solidify her sense of purpose, Ding also changed her name to Pan Dayu, a name taken from one of the bronze cauldrons, Da Yu Ding.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Pans donated the ding to the government. They were first housed in the Shanghai Museum, and in 1959 one of the pair, Da Yu Ding, was transferred to the National Museum of China in Beijing. Both ding belong to the first batch of cultural relics forbidden to go abroad for exhibitions outside China.
Date: Through July 18 (Closed on Mondays), 9am-5pm
Venue: Shanghai Museum
Address: 201 People’s Avenue
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