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Bronze Ritual Vessel in the Shape of a Rhinoceros
This bronze ritual vessel dates to 1100 – 1050 BCE (Shang Dynasty period).
Unearthed in Liangshan, Shandong, the vessel, likely used to hold wine or food, is notable for its differences from other bronze ritual vessels of its time. Few bronze vessels in China were made in the form of animals, and fewer still lacked surface ornamentation, as this vessel does. The vessel is also notable for its lifelike depiction of a rhinoceros, with detailed folds of thick skin and a low-hanging belly.
An inscription inside the belly of the rhinoceros records a gift of cowry shells given to a "Lesser Minister Yu" in the same year that the Shang king launched a military expedition against the Renfang state. This information allowed scholars to date the vessel to the reign of the last king of the Shang Dynasty, Zhou, also known as Di Xin. (San Francisco Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA)
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Questions & Answers
When do jade artworks first appear in China?
- Jade was first used to create artworks in China c. 6000 BCE during the period of the Houli Culture (c. 6500 - c. 5500 BCE).
When was the Great Wall of China first built?
- The Great Wall of China was first constructed during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) but that wall did not resemble the famous wall known today.
What was the first dynasty of ancient China?
- The Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BCE) was the first dynasty of ancient China, thought to be mythical until archaeological evidence supported its existence.
Did the Xia Dynasty develop jade artwork?
- Work in jade was developed by the Hongshan Culture (c. 4700-2900 BCE) and the Liangzu Culture (c. 3400-2250 BCE) long before the Xia Dynasty was established. The Xia simply drew on earlier techniques of work in jade.
