Art of the Warring States Period (3)
|
|
Art of the Warring States Period (3) |
|
|
Chu was territorially a very large state and left behind a large number of artifacts. Gold and silver were often used for decoration on articles for the royal family and high officials. Inscriptions on numerous items have provided a rich insight into Chu life, geography and history. Chu's vast expanse included many local tribes such as the Shu and Ba occupying today's Sichuan Province. | 
|
 |
 |
| State of Chu | |
|
|
|
| Bronze Tripod Ritual Vessel 55 cm high unearthed in Shou County, Anhui Province in 1933. | Inscriptions on the cover and body of the ritual vessel say that the vessel was cast by Xiong Han, King You of Chu (reigned 237-228 BC), from metal obtained after melting down weapons captured in war. Shou was the capital of Cai in the early Warring States period but captured by Chu and then renamed to Shouchun. In 241 BC King Kaolie of Chu being harassed by Qin had moved Chu's capital to Shouchun. Xiong Han was the son of King Kaolie (aka. Xiong Wan). The first two characters from right read "Chu" and "King". |
|
|
|
 |
| Bronze Zheng with images of a tiger and trees. A zheng was a bell-shaped percussion instrument used by an army on march. An inscription in the Ba-Shu language shows that this zheng belongs to these people inhabiting the area of today's Sichuan Province. Ba and Shu were influenced by Chu and later conquered by the Qin state prompting the move of Chu's capital from Ying to Shouchun (see above). | Bronze Rhinoceros Belt Hook inlaid with gold and silver, 17.5 cm long and 6.5 cm high from the ancient Ba people. This tribe used to hunt in boats on lakes and rivers; later they also engaged in farming. Their last capital was around today's Chongqing. Their long-term proximity to Chu had a profound influence on their culture until they were conquered by Qin. | |
|
|
|
|
| Gold Inlaid Bronze Tallies with permits for land and water transportation. The inscriptions say that King Huai of Chu in 323 BC gave these tallies to someone called Ejun Qi mentioning his detailed travel routes, the kinds and quantities of goods he was to carry and the tariffs to be paid. These tallies provide valuable data on Chu's transportation and tariff system. | Crouching Ox with Silver Inlay made of bronze. An inscription under the belly reads "Article of the Dafu". The Dafu was a sort of treasury department in the king's palace so this article was kept in the treasury for the use of the royal family. Measuring 10 cm in length and 5 cm in height this object was likely used to weigh down a mat or papers. | Bronze Wine Container. On the belly and the cap are discs with whorl patterns. Along the rim of the mouth five inscribed characters read "Youyeyin Chu Gao"; Youyeyin was an official title and Chu Gao the name of a person. The jar measures 37 cm in height and 24.5 cm diametrically across the mouth. |
