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| Photo shows a bronze pot unearthed from the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng of the West Han Dyuasty. |
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| Picture shows a bronze pot of the mid-West Zhou period, which was unearthed at Fufeng Shaanxi Province. |
Bronze tripods and quadripods were the largest and also the most important
sacrificial utensils of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC). Many were excavated in the 20m century. Of these, the largest and heaviest. 133 centimeters tall and weighing 875 kilograms, is in the collection of the Chinese History Museum, Beijing. Three characters , reading Si Mu Shu. are found on the inner wall of the tripod, "Mu Shu" being the title of honor conferred on King Wending' s mother posthumously, suggesting that the utensil was produced possibly in honor of the dead woman. The quadripod, square in shape, has two upright ears and its four legs are stout and strong. Animal face and dragon designs are found on the belly of the vessel, and the parts above and below the designs are polished. Each ear features the head of a tiger with a human head in the wide open mouth – a gruesome, mysterious picture, indeed.
Several square-shaped quadripods have been unearthed in recent years in Henan and other provinces. Two of these, though smaller than the quadripod dedicated to Si Mu Shu, are identified as much older. The larger quadripod is 100 centimeters tall and 86.4 kilograms in weight. Both belonged to the supreme rulers of the Shang, for use as sacrificial vessels. Relative to the quadripod dedicated to Si Mu Shu, they are deep and have short legs.
Bronze utensils other than tripods and quadripods were also indispensable at sacrificial ceremonies and feasting. These include containers for sacrificial animals, food, water and wine, all featuring excellent workmanship and exquisite
decorative designs that testify to the importance attached by Shang rulers to those events. |
