Home » Sunday » Now and Then
Ornate ritual wine pot
By Li Wei |
October 31, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ANCIENT bronze wine vessels were used as both practical containers and elaborate ritual ware symbolizing the status and authority of the emperor and hierarchy.
Examples from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) are particularly interesting. They include drinking cups or goblets, pitchers and pots for pouring wine and larger containers for storing wine.
The ritual bronze ware used for holding wine is called yi and they come in many shapes with various inscriptions. Square vessels with inscriptions are rare.
A square yi exhibited in the Shanghai Museum is a masterpiece of this rare type from the Western Zhou Dynasty. It stands 16.4 centimeters high and weighs 1,620 grams.
It has unusual handles shaped like trunks on two sides. The lid, body, mouth and foot are all decorated with carvings of exaggerated animal masks, a common ancient motif.
The vessel itself is divided into two containers.
Both the lid and the body are engraved with 66 characters telling the story of Shi Ju paying tribute to the king of Zhou State at a banquet after the king gave him jade gui and zhang, both ritual objects. They were used in ceremonies to pray to god and ancestors and ask for good fortune. The elaborate wine vessel was made by Shi Ju and presented to the king as a gift to repay his kindness.
Examples from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) are particularly interesting. They include drinking cups or goblets, pitchers and pots for pouring wine and larger containers for storing wine.
The ritual bronze ware used for holding wine is called yi and they come in many shapes with various inscriptions. Square vessels with inscriptions are rare.
A square yi exhibited in the Shanghai Museum is a masterpiece of this rare type from the Western Zhou Dynasty. It stands 16.4 centimeters high and weighs 1,620 grams.
It has unusual handles shaped like trunks on two sides. The lid, body, mouth and foot are all decorated with carvings of exaggerated animal masks, a common ancient motif.
The vessel itself is divided into two containers.
Both the lid and the body are engraved with 66 characters telling the story of Shi Ju paying tribute to the king of Zhou State at a banquet after the king gave him jade gui and zhang, both ritual objects. They were used in ceremonies to pray to god and ancestors and ask for good fortune. The elaborate wine vessel was made by Shi Ju and presented to the king as a gift to repay his kindness.
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