Treasure Canons · TC7

Arms and Tallies

Halberds, swords, armour, tiger tallies and military texts: strategy and war in objects

31treasures

10dynasties

17institutions

This canon gathers treasures of war and strategy: bronze ge halberds and famous swords, armour and crossbows, tiger tallies and credentials for moving troops, bamboo-slip military treatises and board games. They witness the edge of battle and the wisdom of winning without fighting.

Representative treasures

31 treasures
Late Western Zhou · Bronze Water VesselsGuo Ji Zi Bai PanA battle report in rhyming four-character verseNational Museum of ChinaTE10011Song dynasty · Figure PaintingSong Copy of Yan Liben's Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan EnvoyAn audience before Princess Wencheng went to TibetPalace MuseumTE10031Late Warring States to Qin · Bamboo Slips & Silk TextsShuihudi Qin Bamboo SlipsThe law books a Qin clerk took to his graveHubei Provincial MuseumTE10041Qin dynasty · Tomb FiguresTerracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin EmperorThe First Emperor's army undergroundEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site MuseumTE10051Tang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneFour of the Six Steeds of ZhaolingThe war horses that won Taizong his empireXi'an Beilin MuseumTE10057Western Han dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneStone Sculptures of the Maoling MausoleumA stone memorial to a young generalMaoling MuseumTE10058Warring States, Qin (344 BCE) · Weights & MeasuresShang Yang Square Sheng MeasureA measure that served two Qin reformsShanghai MuseumTE10060Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourSword of Goujian, King of YueThe sword of the king who slept on brushwoodHubei Provincial MuseumTE10061Warring States period · Bronze Wine VesselsBronze Hu with Gold, Silver and Inlay and Mesh CoverWar spoil wrapped in a golden netNanjing MuseumTE10085Warring States period · Bronze Water VesselsPair of Jian Basins with Land and Water Battle ScenesWarring States warfare in inlaid bronzeInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10090Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesGreat Jade Dagger-axe from PanlongchengA giant jade blade from the Yangzi Shang cityHubei Provincial MuseumTE10115Neolithic, Liangzhu culture · Ritual JadesLiangzhu Jade Yue Axe with Deity and Beast MaskThe jade axe of a Liangzhu kingZhejiang Provincial MuseumTE10116

Bronze, Gold & Silver

3 treasures
Late Western Zhou · Bronze Water VesselsGuo Ji Zi Bai PanA battle report in rhyming four-character verseNational Museum of ChinaTE10011Warring States period · Bronze Wine VesselsBronze Hu with Gold, Silver and Inlay and Mesh CoverWar spoil wrapped in a golden netNanjing MuseumTE10085Warring States period · Bronze Water VesselsPair of Jian Basins with Land and Water Battle ScenesWarring States warfare in inlaid bronzeInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10090

Jade, Stone & Seals

4 treasures
Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesGreat Jade Dagger-axe from PanlongchengA giant jade blade from the Yangzi Shang cityHubei Provincial MuseumTE10115Neolithic, Liangzhu culture · Ritual JadesLiangzhu Jade Yue Axe with Deity and Beast MaskThe jade axe of a Liangzhu kingZhejiang Provincial MuseumTE10116Warring States period (Qin) · Tallies & TokensDu Tiger TallyTwo halves had to match before the army movedShaanxi History MuseumTE10146Qin dynasty · Tallies & TokensYangling Tiger TallyThe Qin army order split in twoNational Museum of ChinaTE10148

Calligraphy, Painting & Rubbings

10 treasures
Song dynasty · Figure PaintingSong Copy of Yan Liben's Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan EnvoyAn audience before Princess Wencheng went to TibetPalace MuseumTE10031Southern Song dynasty, 1137 · Calligraphy OriginalsEmperor Gaozong of Song, Edict to Yue FeiAn emperor's own letter to Yue FeiNational Palace MuseumTE10231Ming dynasty · Steles & RubbingsStele of Shen Yourong Ordering the Dutch under Wijbrand van Waerwijck to WithdrawA stone that records a fleet turned awayPenghu Tianhou TempleTE10271Yuan, 1280 · Figure PaintingLiu Guandao, Kublai Khan HuntingKublai Khan on the steppeNational Palace MuseumTE10281Southern Tang (Five Dynasties) · Figure PaintingZhou Wenju, Double Screen Weiqi GameA screen within a screenPalace MuseumTE10289Ming dynasty · Figure PaintingEquestrian Portrait of Emperor Xuanzong of MingThe Xuande Emperor rides out with his falconNational Palace MuseumTE10340Five Dynasties · Figure PaintingHu Gui, Khitan Riders at RestA steppe feast after the huntPalace MuseumTE10352About 17th century · Figure PaintingPortrait of KoxingaA family's heirloom portrait of KoxingaNational Taiwan MuseumTE10354Song dynasty · Landscape PaintingEmperor Minghuang's Journey to ShuThe Tang emperor's flight along the Shu roadsNational Palace MuseumTE10380Song dynasty · Genre & Ruled-Line PaintingFour Scenes of the Jingde ReignFour scenes from the Jingde courtNational Palace MuseumTE10491

Sculpture & Statuary

6 treasures
Qin dynasty · Tomb FiguresTerracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin EmperorThe First Emperor's army undergroundEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site MuseumTE10051Tang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneFour of the Six Steeds of ZhaolingThe war horses that won Taizong his empireXi'an Beilin MuseumTE10057Western Han dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneStone Sculptures of the Maoling MausoleumA stone memorial to a young generalMaoling MuseumTE10058Western Han dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureGilt Bronze HorseA heavenly horse of Emperor Wu's ageMaoling MuseumTE10645Tang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneQuanmaogua, One of the Six Steeds of ZhaolingThe warhorse that carried nine arrowsPenn MuseumTE10664Tang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneSaluzi, One of the Six Steeds of ZhaolingQiu Xinggong draws the arrowPenn MuseumTE10665

Implements & Instruments

5 treasures
Warring States, Qin (344 BCE) · Weights & MeasuresShang Yang Square Sheng MeasureA measure that served two Qin reformsShanghai MuseumTE10060Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourSword of Goujian, King of YueThe sword of the king who slept on brushwoodHubei Provincial MuseumTE10061Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourBronze Short Sword with Gold HiltA bronze blade with a golden hiltNational Museum of HistoryTE10677Late Shang dynasty · Weapons & ArmourDagger-axe with Jade Blade and Bronze TangA Shang ceremonial weapon of jade and bronzeInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10678Late Shang dynasty · Transport & HarnessHorse Bridle Ornaments SetThe bridle jewels of a Shang horseInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10691

Types by dynasty

Where this canon's treasures fall by type and dynasty; click an ink dot to open that dynasty at that type.

Arms and Tallies · Types by dynasty
ShangZhouQinHanTangTen KingdomsSongYuanMingQing
Bronze, Gold & Silver3
Jade, Stone & Seals3
Calligraphy, Painting & Rubbings10
Books & Documents3
Lacquer, Wood & Furniture1
Sculpture & Statuary6
Implements & Instruments5
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