Shang dynasty (c1700-1027 BCE)
Circular cauldron ding 1100s-1000s BCE
Bronze, 21.5 x 18 cm
Bequest of Kenneth Myer 1993
572.1993

Ritual bronzes

The origins of metallurgy in China go back to prehistoric times. By the great Bronze Age of the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c1700-221 BCE) bronze was used extensively in cult rituals, for military, agricultural and industrial purposes and as political capital. Ritual bronzes in a great variety of forms and styles were essential features of temples dedicated to ancestors and heavenly gods. With ritual and war said to be the primary concerns of a nation, bronze ritual vessels and weapons were among the most elegant of the bronze objects produced. Their unrivalled quality, originality and beauty made them the hallmark of China's antiquity while the extent of their use reflects the central roles they played across social and official strata.
The ding, or cauldron is one of the most common forms of ritual bronze. Square, rectangular or circular in form, they were used for holding and heating food during ceremonies. The longstanding practice of burying bronze vessels and other artworks in tombs of the deceased has allowed the preservation of China's cultural legacy.