Through the Dynasties · TH2

Shang

1600–1046 BCE · Owl zun, great ding and oracle bones: the height of the Bronze Age

35treasures

6types

10institutions

Bronze, Gold & Silver

16 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsHoumuwu DingA royal ritual cauldron weighing over 830 kilogramsNational Museum of ChinaTE10002Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Wine VesselsFour-Ram Square ZunA Shang bronze shattered in wartime and pieced back togetherNational Museum of ChinaTE10007Late Shang dynasty · Censers & Other MetalworkBronze Sacred Tree from SanxingduiThe ancient Shu tree that reached for the skySanxingdui MuseumTE10013Late Shang dynasty · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGold Staff from SanxingduiThe golden sceptre of the Shu kingsSanxingdui MuseumTE10015Late Shang dynasty · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGolden Sun Bird Ornament from JinshaThe golden birds that became China's heritage emblemJinsha Site MuseumTE10016Late Shang · Bronze Food VesselsYa Chou Square GuiA square gui marked with the Ya Chou clan signNational Palace MuseumTE10066Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsDahe Square Ding with Human FacesThe human-faced ding from the Xiang valleyHunan MuseumTE10069Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsZilong DingA giant ding that came homeNational Museum of ChinaTE10072Early Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsDuling Square DingAn early Shang giant from ZhengzhouHenan MuseumTE10073Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsNiu Fang Ding (Ox Square Ding)The ox ding from a Shang royal tombInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10075Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsLu Fang Ding (Deer Square Ding)The deer ding beside the ox dingInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10078Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Wine VesselsOwl-shaped Zun of Fu HaoFu Hao's owlHenan MuseumTE10080
Bronze Food Vessels7Bronze Wine Vessels4Bronze Water Vessels2Censers & Other Metalwork1Gold & Silver Ornaments2

Jade, Stone & Seals

4 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesJade Zhang Blade with Engraved Figures from SanxingduiA jade blade showing the Shu mountain ritesSanxingdui MuseumTE10108Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesGreat Jade Dagger-axe from PanlongchengA giant jade blade from the Yangzi Shang cityHubei Provincial MuseumTE10115Late Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesTen-section Jade Cong from JinshaA Liangzhu cong that travelled to ShuJinsha Site MuseumTE10117Shang dynasty · Jade OrnamentsJade Human Head OrnamentA human face carved in jade over three thousand years agoInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10125
Ritual Jades3Jade Ornaments1

Books & Documents

3 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Oracle BonesInscribed Ox AstragalusA Shang record on a tiny ankle boneInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10508Late Shang dynasty · Oracle BonesInscribed Deer SkullA royal hunt recorded on a deer's skullInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10509Late Shang dynasty (reign of Wu Ding) · Oracle BonesOracle Bones from Pit YH127, YinxuA whole pit of oracle bones lifted out in one blockInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10510
Oracle Bones3

Sculpture & Statuary

10 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Censers & Other MetalworkBronze Sacred Tree from SanxingduiThe ancient Shu tree that reached for the skySanxingdui MuseumTE10013Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Standing Figure from SanxingduiAmong the tallest bronze figures of its ageSanxingdui MuseumTE10053Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Human MaskA bronze face from three thousand years agoInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10646Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Mask with Protruding EyesThe mask with eyes that reach outwardSanxingdui MuseumTE10647Late Shang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneMarble Tube with Paired Bird-beak Animal MaskAn animal mask carved in Shang marbleInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10659Late Shang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneMarble Figure of Two Crouching Animals Tail to TailTwo Shang beasts tail to tailInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10660Late Shang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneSmall Marble Owl FigureThe owl of the ShangInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10661Late Shang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneMarble Owl FigureA stone owl keeping watch over the ShangInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10662Late Shang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneMarble Standing Figure with Tiger Head and Human BodyA Shang figure with a tiger's headInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10663Late Shang · Tomb & Monumental StoneStone BirdA Shang bird from a chime-stone standInstitute of History and Philology, Academia SinicaTE10667
Bronze Figures & Sculpture4Tomb & Monumental Stone6