The era of the Shang and the Zhou dynasties is generally known as the Bronze Age of China, because bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, used to fashion weapons, parts of chariots, and ritual vessels, played an important role in the material culture of the time.

The Chinese Bronze Age began in the Xia dynasty (c. 2070 – c. 1600 BC), and bronze ritual containers form the bulk of collections of Chinese antiquities, reaching its zenith during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600 – c. 1046 BC) and the early part of the Zhou dynasty (1045–256 BC).

Chinese bronzes - Shang Dynasty, Ritual Vessels, Bronze Age: The earliest examples of bronze vessels were unearthed in Erlitou, near the modern city of Luoyang in Henan province, which may or may not represent the earliest named Shang capital, Po, if not a still earlier Xia dynasty site.

2024年8月29日 · Objects that fall under the category of ‘ancient Chinese bronzes’ span a period ranging some 1,800 years — from the Shang dynasty (1600-100 BC) to the Han (206 BC-220 AD). It is important to understand the different styles associated with each period.

2020年5月6日 · Shang Dynasty bronze vessels were sacred and tangible symbols of heavenly power. Their use in public rituals reinforced their role as leaders of their people and their privileged direct communication and enactor of the will …

Foundries capable of heating the ores to high enough temperatures for mixing and casting metal were established in northern areas of China around 1700 BCE. One of the largest and most impressive early foundries was at Anyang, the capital of …

Looking back into the history, bronzes of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties were admired for their myriad forms, intricate patterns, and superb casting techniques. They reflect the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture and the marvellous creativity of ancient Chinese.

From Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BCE) records comprised of some 200,000 inscriptions on bone and turtle shells, we know that Chinese ancestors were propitiated with elaborate rites, feasts, and sacrifices.

The Chinese Bronze Age had begun by 1700 B.C. in the kingdom of the Shang dynasty along the banks of the Yellow River in northern China. At times the Shang kings ruled even larger areas. Contrary to common notions about the Chinese, the Bronze Age …

More than any other factor, it was the unearthing of magnificent bronze vessels at Anyang that demonstrated the power and wealth of the Shang rulers. The vessels were used in divinatory ceremonies for sacrificial offerings of meat, wine, and grain, primarily to the spirits of clan ancestors, especially those of the ruler and his family.