Ancient wine vessels reflect glory of Chinese bronze civilization

In ancient China's bronze civilization, wine vessels played a vital role in the ritual systems that underpinned social order. Fueled by advances in wine making and bronze casting techniques, the Shang and subsequent Zhou dynasties – over 3,000 years ago – witnessed a flourishing variety of bronze wine containers, some of which are now housed at the Henan Museum.

These wine vessels served multiple purposes, including boiling, storing, serving, and drinking wine. Each function was associated with various designs – some practical, others inspired by animals. One of the museum's most treasured pieces is the bronze owl-shaped Zun wine vessel with Fu Hao inscriptions, dating to the late Shang Dynasty. Standing 46.3 centimeters tall and weighing 16 kilograms, this ritual wine vessel was unearthed in 1976 from a tomb at the Yinxu archaeological site in Henan Province.

The owl – referred to as "xiao" in ancient Chinese – was considered a sacred bird and symbol of wisdom. Its nocturnal nature, silent flight and fierce features evoked both reverence and awe during the Shang period.

Another remarkable exhibit is the goose-shaped bronze He, a Western Zhou Dynasty wine vessel discovered in 1988 in a tomb in Pingdingshan, Henan Province. Its lid bears a five-line, 44-character inscription. According to the text, a diplomatic envoy received red copper and deerskin as gifts during a foreign mission. Upon returning home, he used the gifted copper to cast the vessel, commemorating the journey and its significance.

These intricate bronze wine vessels are not only artifacts of practical use but also profound symbols of the material and spiritual achievements of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. They stand as enduring evidence of China's Bronze Age reaching a cultural and technological zenith.