Through the Dynasties · TH3

Zhou

1046–221 BCE · Bells and ding in rank: rite and music cast in bronze

59treasures

8types

23institutions

Metalwork

33 treasures
Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsLi GuiThe bronze that dates the Zhou conquest of ShangNational Museum of ChinaTE10001Late Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsDa Ke DingA Western Zhou giant guarded by the Pan familyShanghai MuseumTE10003Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsDa Yu DingA royal charge of the early Zhou, cast in bronzeNational Museum of ChinaTE10004Late Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsMao Gong DingKing Xuan's long charge to the Duke of MaoNational Palace MuseumTE10005Early Western Zhou · Bronze Wine VesselsHe ZunWhere the word Zhongguo first appears in writingBaoji Bronze Ware MuseumTE10006Early Warring States period · Bronze Wine VesselsZun and Pan of Marquis Yi of ZengBronze as fine as lace from Marquis Yi's tombHubei Provincial MuseumTE10008Middle Spring and Autumn period · Bronze Wine VesselsLotus and Crane Square HuA crane about to take flight from a lotusHenan MuseumTE10009Middle Western Zhou · Bronze Water VesselsShi Qiang PanA Zhou court scribe's history of his dynastyBaoji Bronze Ware MuseumTE10010Late Western Zhou · Bronze Water VesselsGuo Ji Zi Bai PanA battle report in rhyming four-character verseNational Museum of ChinaTE10011Late Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsHu GuiA bronze cast by a Zhou king for himselfBaoji Bronze Ware MuseumTE10064Warring States period · Bronze Food VesselsIron-legged Bronze Ding of the King of ZhongshanZhongshan's iron-legged ding of royal counselHebei MuseumTE10065Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsBoju LiA Yan bronze guarded by seven ox headsCapital MuseumTE10067
Bronze Food Vessels13Bronze Wine Vessels11Bronze Water Vessels7Censers & Other Metalwork3Gold & Silver Ornaments1

Jades

6 treasures
Warring States period · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGilt Silver Belt Hook Inlaid with Jade and GlassA belt hook of gold, jade and glassNational Museum of ChinaTE10106Western Zhou dynasty · Jade OrnamentsJade Pectoral Set of the Wife of a Marquis of JinThe jade adornment of a Jin marquiseShanxi MuseumTE10123Early Warring States period · Jade OrnamentsMulti-section Jade Pendant with Linked Rings of Marquis Yi of ZengFive pieces of jade, sixteen linked sectionsHubei Provincial MuseumTE10124Warring States period · Gems & Precious StonesWarring States Crystal CupA see-through cup from over two thousand years agoHangzhou MuseumTE10137Warring States period (Qin) · Tallies & TokensDu Tiger TallyTwo halves had to match before the army movedShaanxi History MuseumTE10146Warring States, sixth year of King Huai of Chu (323 BCE) · Tallies & TokensE Jun Qi TalliesA Chu lord's tax-free pass by land and waterNational Museum of ChinaTE10147
Jade Ornaments3Gems & Precious Stones1Tallies & Tokens2

Books

3 treasures
Mid Warring States period · Bamboo Slips & Silk TextsGuodian Chu SlipsThe Laozi as it was read over two thousand years agoJingmen MuseumTE10042Warring States period · Bamboo Slips & Silk TextsShanghai Museum Warring States Chu Bamboo ManuscriptsChu books rescued from the antiques marketShanghai MuseumTE10512Mid Warring States period · Bamboo Slips & Silk TextsTsinghua Bamboo SlipsLost Warring States books brought back to lightTsinghua University Research and Conservation Center for Excavated TextsTE10518
Bamboo Slips & Silk Texts3

Furniture

5 treasures
Warring States period · Painted LacquerPainted Lacquer Carved Wooden Table ScreenA Chu menagerie in carved lacquerHubei Provincial MuseumTE10607Early Warring States period · Painted LacquerDuck-shaped Lacquer Box with Music and Dance ScenesMusic and dance on a lacquer duckHubei Provincial MuseumTE10608Mid-late Warring States (Chu) · Painted LacquerLacquer Toilet Box with Painted Procession of Figures and CarriagesA Chu procession painted on lacquerHubei Provincial MuseumTE10609Early Warring States period · Painted LacquerOuter Coffin of Marquis Yi of ZengA marquis's coffin framed in bronzeHubei Provincial MuseumTE10610Warring States period · Musical InstrumentsDrum on Tiger Bases with Bird FramePhoenixes on tigers holding up a drumHubei Provincial MuseumTE10685
Painted Lacquer5Bamboo & Wood Carving1

Textiles

3 treasures
Mid-to-late Warring States period · Silk & BrocadeSilk braid with hunting scenesA hunt woven into a silk ribbonJingzhou MuseumTE10622Mid-to-late Warring States period · EmbroideryPale yellow silk quilt embroidered with coiled dragons and flying phoenixesA Chu quilt of dragons and phoenixesJingzhou MuseumTE10635Mid-to-late Warring States period · EmbroideryGauze garment embroidered with dragon, phoenix and tigerA Chu phoenix taking on a dragon and a tigerJingzhou MuseumTE10637
Silk & Brocade1Embroidery2Garments1

Implements

7 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 MuseumTE10061Early Warring States period · Musical InstrumentsBianzhong Bells of Marquis Yi of ZengA bronze orchestra from over 2,400 years agoHubei Provincial MuseumTE10062Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourBronze Short Sword with Gold HiltA bronze blade with a golden hiltNational Museum of HistoryTE10677Late Western Zhou · Musical InstrumentsZongzhou BellA bell cast by a Zhou king himselfNational Palace MuseumTE10681Late Western Zhou · Musical InstrumentsBells of Marquis Su of JinA set of bells divided between two museumsShanghai MuseumTE10682Warring States period · Musical InstrumentsDrum on Tiger Bases with Bird FramePhoenixes on tigers holding up a drumHubei Provincial MuseumTE10685
Weights & Measures1Weapons & Armour2Musical Instruments4