A bronze ox-shaped wine vessel, a type of zun, from the late Spring and Autumn Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze ox-shaped wine vessel, a type of zun, from the late Spring and Autumn Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze food vessel known as the Da Ke Ding from the Western Zhou Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze food vessel known as the Da Ke Ding from the Western Zhou Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze wine vessel known as the Xiao Chen Xi You from the late Shang Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze wine vessel known as the Xiao Chen Xi You from the late Shang Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

The Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery at the Shanghai Museum is staging one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of ancient Chinese bronzes anywhere in the world. Spanning a period of some 3,600 years from the late Xia Dynasty in the 18th century BC to the mid-19th century AD, over 500 meticulously curated exhibits are currently on display. These artifacts vividly present the distinctive features of bronze craftsmanship throughout different epochs, unfolding the resplendent glory of Chinese bronze art in all its magnificence.

A bronze ritual water vessel known as the Pan of Zi Zhong Jiang from the early Spring and Autumn Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze ritual water vessel known as the Pan of Zi Zhong Jiang from the early Spring and Autumn Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze wine vessel featuring an animal mask pattern from the late Shang Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze wine vessel featuring an animal mask pattern from the late Shang Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze zhong, a type of ancient Chinese percussion instrument, featuring a coiled dragon pattern from the early Warring States Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

A bronze zhong, a type of ancient Chinese percussion instrument, featuring a coiled dragon pattern from the early Warring States Period is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

Bronze boshanlu, or hill censer, featuring scene of figures and animals in a landscape from the Eastern Han Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

Bronze boshanlu, or hill censer, featuring scene of figures and animals in a landscape from the Eastern Han Dynasty is seen on display at the Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery of the Shanghai Museum, on January 31, 2025. /CGTN

Bronzeware stands as a pivotal marker of ancient Chinese society's entry into the civilized age, where it emerged as a unique creation for an aristocratic society that held the ritual system in high esteem. Given that bronzes were predominantly employed in ritual practices like offering sacrifices to deities and ancestors, ceremonial exchanges, or sumptuous feasts for guests, they came to be regarded as ritual vessels – objects that were not only emblems of power in ancient times, but also dictated the social hierarchy. Nobles of varying ranks laid claim to bronzes befitting their respective positions.