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Shang Dynasty商朝

The Shang dynasty was established in about 1,600 BCE when eastern tribes overthrew the Xia. After a number of early relocations of the capital it was settled in Yin, located in present day Anyang, Henan province in about 1,300 BCE. Thousands of bronze ware artifacts have been excavated from Yin and more Shang dynasty artifacts have been found in Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Anhui, and Liaoning provinces. One of the best known Shang emperors is Emperor Wu Ding 武丁, who reigned around 1,250 BCE, at the peak of the Shang court. His reign divides the early and late Shang period. One of the riches archeological sites is the tomb of Wu Ding's wife Fu Hao 妇好 (literally, good wife). She was the emperor's favorite wife, a military hero, and important political figure but, unfortunately, died an untimely and early death. Her tomb was found in 1976 in present day Anyang stacked full with priceless bronze ware. Even before the find, she was known from numerous oracle bone divinations that the emperor ordered to monitor her safety.

斝上的火纹与兽面纹 商朝中期（公元前15世纪〜前13世纪）上海博物馆 Fire Designs and Animal Mask Designs on a Jia (Wine Vessel) Mid Shang Dynasty (15th — 13th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

Bronze was an important material for ceremonial vessels, such as the wine and food vessels shown below. The vessels played a key role in these ceremonies used for offerings to dieties and ancestors. The markings on the vessels had a connection with these ceremonies and the religious beliefs of the people at the time, especially mysterious and ferocious animals.

兽面纹斝 商朝中期（公元前15世纪〜前13世纪）上海博物馆 Jia with Animal Mask Designs Mid Shang Dynasty (15th — 13th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

Chinese discovered how to brew alcoholic drinks in the Neolithic Age. The jia, shown in the picture above, is a relatively large vessel for heating wine.

簋上的兽面纹 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Animal Mask Pattern on a Gui (Food Vessel) Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

The jia and gui above show uses of the animal mask or taotie design on food and wine vessels.

兽面纹瓿 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Pou (Food Vessel) with Animal Mask Pattern Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

A pou 瓿 is an ancient vessel used for holding water or wine. It was in common use from the Shang to the Warring States Period. It is similar to a zun 尊 but shorter. Pou are usually round but sometimes square and have restricted opening with a wide shoulder, take a lid, and have a round base. Some have handles and some do not.

乳打雷纹瓿 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Pou (Food Vessel) with Nipple and Lightening Pattern Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

Pou are frequently decorated with nipples, as shown above and below, and animal mask designs.

四羊首瓿 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Four Headed Ram Pou Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

The yu, shown below, is a water container with a deep belly.

父乙盂 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Fu Yi Bowl Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

The ding 鼎, the most important bronzeware artifact, was a central artifact used in ceremonies, especially sacrifices and court banquets. It's use was strictly regulated in the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. Only the emperor could use nine ding in ceremonies. Lesser nobles could use seven, five, three, or one ding. The Nine Ding 九鼎 is a symbole of state power originating with the founder of the Xia Dynasty, which were passed to successive rulers. There are many Chinese idioms with references to ding. There are also many names of Chinese restaurants with ding as part of the name, such as 鼎好 (literally, good ding).

龙纹扁足鼎 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Ding with Flat Legs with Dragon Design Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

The gu, shown below, is a trumpet like wine vessel with a hoop base. The inspiration for the design of the bronze ware gu is the pottery gu.

觚 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 Gu (Wine Vessel) Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

The you, shown below, is a vessel for holding a valuable wine brewed from black millet and vanilla.

戉箙卣 商朝晚期（公元前13世纪〜前11世纪）上海博物馆 You (Wine Vessel) Late Shang Dynasty (13th — 11th century BCE), Shanghai Museum

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