Zun

The zun or yi, used until the Northern Song (960–1126) is a type of Chinese ritual bronze or ceramic wine vessel with a round or square vase-like form, sometimes in the shape of an animal,[1] first appearing in the Shang dynasty.

Used in religious ceremonies to hold wine, the zun has a wide lip to facilitate pouring.

The most noticeable symbol through the decor is the taotie, known as the demon-face or the face of a sacrificial animal in early Chinese art.

[4] This type of face is a common motif found in Chinese ritual bronzes during the Shang dynasty.

The most visible feature of the mask on the vessel is the protruding animal eyes projecting from the bronze surface in which stares at the viewer.

[8] Some characteristics of early Shang zuns consisted of a flaring mouth, high neck and a large body.

It has a generous mouth with a flared flat lip, a long neck, projecting shoulder, shallow belly and high ring foot.

On the shoulder are high-relief designs of dragons with their three-dimensional heads on the centre and their bodies wriggling along the sides.

On the four corners of the shoulder are four protruding rams’ heads with curly horns, the belly of the vessel forming their chests and their legs extending down the ring foot.

In appearance, this owl looks solemn and powerful with its two legs and tail form a triangle support the vessel.

Being the wife of the king, Fuhao involved herself in major state affairs, participated in wars, and presided over sacrificial ceremonies.

She led troops to conquer many parts of the country, thus enjoying an illustrious status and being a legendary figure.

This is a tall and large zun, with a trumpet-shaped mouth, girded neck, broad sloping shoulder, belly which narrows at the bottom, and a high ring foot.

The neck is decorated with three narrow bands, the shoulder with three protruding wriggling dragons with upright conical horns, open mouths, extended bodies and coiled tail.

In ancient times, non-Chinese peoples lived in Huaiyi Region, where this piece was excavated, and it shows the influence of Shang bronzes combined with local features.

[14] The bronze zun-pan set from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng (433 BC) unearthed in Suizhou, Hubei in 1978.

Now He Zun is one of the precious cultural relics which can never be exhibited overseas as expressly provided by Chinese government.

This vessel describes the establishment of a royal residence at the new capital five years after King Cheng assumed the throne.

When King Wu had newly conquered the Great City of Shang he made an announcement in the courtyard at the altar of Heaven saying, ‘I shall reside in this central country and from it rule the people.’ Pay attention, inexperienced youths!

[17]When the King had completed his address, he bestowed upon He thirty strings of cowries, wherefore has been cast this precious sacrificial vessel for X Gong.

This vessel is in the form of a powerful standing rhinoceros with a raised head with pricked ears and sharp tusks.

Cloud decorations cover the entire body with spirals in between, all inlaid with gold and silver, suggesting the fine hairs of the rhinoceros.

This is a realistic piece with flowing and lively decoration, and deserves to be considered a masterpiece of Western Han gold and silver inlay.