The Da Yu Ding is a significant bronze vessel from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC). What makes it rather special and valuable is the inscription of 291 characters on it that not only records important historical information but also has great cultural value in terms of calligraphy.

The Bronze Age in China began around 2,000 BC and lasted for nearly 1,500 years. The Shang and Zhou dynasties (C. 1,600-256 BC) were the peak era for using bronzewares, such as the zun, ding and gui, as ritual vessels. Also known as bronze script, the inscriptions on these bronze artifacts bear great cultural value as they record a wealth of information about the dynasties that reigned over 3,000 years ago.

Based on its inscriptions, the Da Yu Ding was made after King Kang of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the third king after its founding, appointed an important minister, whose name was Yu. To show his respect for King Kang's reign, Yu gathered talented craftsmen to construct the ding, which also served as a symbol of respect for the virtues of King Wen and King Wu, and as a tribute to their ancestors.

Professor Meng Man of Minzu University of China believed the inscriptions on the Da Yu Ding provide key clues about the subinfeudation system in ancient China. "We know that during the Western Zhou Dynasty, a subinfeudation system was implemented, which allowed tenants to sublet their land. But how exactly were these feudal states bestowed? The Da Yu Ding provides clear explanations of this and which individuals were granted titles. It's all very interesting," Meng said.

In terms of the calligraphic value of the inscriptions on the Da Yu Ding, Professor Li Gangtian of Zhengzhou University noted that these valuable inscriptions exemplify early bronze script. "The Da Yu Ding is a representative example of early bronze script. The inscriptions on early bronze artifacts are majestic and grand, with a sense of solemnity, while being simple and plain in style. So, in this sense, it is representative of this style," said Li.

Following the ancient inscriptions on oracle bones, the inscriptions on bronzeware display two important forms of Chinese characters. Unfortunately, some of the characters on the Da Yu Ding are damaged or covered with rust, making it difficult to copy them from rubbings. This also posed a challenge for the calligraphy enthusiasts when it came to recreating them.

To avoid errors, experts suggested that calligraphy enthusiasts should first of all attempt to understand their meaning. And to recreate on paper the sense of atmosphere that people feel when looking at the rubbings, or "the aura of metal and stone," the calligraphers were advised to take steps to control the unevenness in the strokes caused by the damage.