ANCIENT CHINESE BRONZE CULTURE

CURRENT

by OH SEEUN Associate Curator of the Exhibition Division, National Museum of Korea

Exhibition Info. September 16 – November 14, 2021National Museum of Korea

The special exhibition to mark the 2021–2022 Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange

Ancient Chinese made bronzeware for use in sacrificial ceremonies from around the twentieth century BCE. According to theChinese legend of “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors,” Emperor Shun 舜 r. 2255–2205 BCE, the last ruler in the pre-dynastic period commanded Yu 禹 to control the floods on the Yellow River. Subsequently, Yu became the founding emperor of the Xia 21st–16th century BCE, , China’s first dynasty, and he cast a collection of nine tripodcauldrons, known as ding, which became symbols of the authority given to the ruler by the Mandate of Heaven. The belief in this legend motivated the Chinese to cast bronzeware, despite the difficulty of the task, and use them to make offerings to the gods.

The National Museum of Korea is hosting Ancient Chinese Bronze Cultureto mark the 2021–2022 Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange. The special exhibition is being held in collaboration with the Shanghai Museum, which boasts a world-class collection of ancient Chinese bronzeware. Bronze vessel production methods were limited four millennia ago, and no more than 40% of all the castings were successful. Yet the number of completed pieces found from that period is so high that a precise count is difficult to make. On the other hand, we can imagine how excellent the crafts manship was at that time, as vessels thousands of years old are excavated today with their original form intact. China’s peculiar culture of bronzeware for ritual use can be found nowhere else on earth, while the refined and mysterious vessel shapes stand alone in the world.

The details as to how the Shanghai Museum gathered its collection of bronzeware is extraordinary. Other Chinese museums have obtained archaeological relics mainly through excavations, where as the Shanghai Museum has built up its collection by collecting, receiving donations, and buying at auctions. In the 1950s, the Chinese government launched a massive metal collection drive, and Shanghai, the nation’s leading port at the time, also had the largest smelting works in the country. Therefore, countless bronzeware naturally flowed into Shanghai, and some people who understood the importance of the very old bronzeware delivered more than 30,000 pieces to the Shanghai Museum. Subsequently, archaeological digs were increasingly conducted on historic sites inside China, allowing experts to surmise the original sites for items in the Shanghai collection, the majority of which had been illegally excavated.

The special exhibition is divided into four parts, laid out in a chronological order that reveals how people’s perception of concerning bronzeware evolved. Initially they were made as ritual items for offering sacrifices to the gods. Over time they became a means of demonstrating the power of kings and feudal lords, and ultimately they were produced as articlesused in everyday life.

Part 1: The beginning of Bronze Culture: Casting Bronzeware Modeled on Pottery Pieces

This part introduces visitors to the characteristics that define bonze vessels at the earliest stage. Bronzeware production began in earnest during the Xia Dynasty 21st–16th century BCE . Xia craftsmen produced bronzeware by applying copper working methods developed during the Longshan Culture of the late Neolithic Era. They used Neolithic Era earthenware as their model for producing the earliest bronzeware. Their casting methods were still primitive, and the food contents would leak out of the legs. The vessels were simply decorated, without intricate patterns. Production techniques advanced over time, and a wide range of bronzeware was produced from the succeeding Shang Dynasty 16th–11th century BCE onwards.

Bronzeware collection from the Shanghai Museum

Wine Vessel, Jue

Late Shang Dynasty, 13th–11th century BCE / L. 21.0 cm

Wine Vessel, You

Late Shang Dynasty, 13th–11th century BCE / H. 32.9 cm

Reduced modeling to show ancient bronzeware production process

Part 2: Vessels for the Gods: Casting Various Bronze Ritual Items

In this part, visitors will see bronze ritual items that were once used in various ceremonies. China’s second dynasty, the Shang 16th–11th century BCE was a theocratic state, prompting the king to preside over sacrifices to the gods whenever important state decisions such as engaging in war were to be made. Offering libations was an important part of these ceremonies, so the sophistication of wine vessels advanced greatly during this period. In the late Shang Dynasty, a wide range of bronze implements were produced, to include wine, food, and water vessels as well as musical instruments. The Shang Dynasty’s libation ceremonies and bronzeware production methods were carried over to the ensuing Western Zhou Dynasty 11th century – 771 BCE . However, by the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty, people increasingly believed that the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages led to the demise of the Shang Dynasty, and so the production of bronze wine vessels steadily decreased. Instead,rituals involving the offering of food and water continued to develop. New shapes of ceremonial food vessels also appearedsuch as the dou footed dish.

Tripod Cauldron

Western Zhou Dynasty, late 10th century / BCE H. 40.5 cm

Part 3: Symbols of Power: Creating Rules for the Use of Bronzeware

On display in this part is bronzeware that was incorporated into a system of usage that would demonstrate the power of human rulers. The bronzeware produced during the Shang Dynasty for the benefit of the gods were institutionalized in the Western Zhou Dynasty as a means to project the status of individuals in power. Regulations were put in place stipulating the use of dishes and musical instruments according to social position, which were used to maintain the social order with the emperor at the top. This system put the Son of Heaven in the center and placed the various feudal lords in subordinate positions around him.

Part 4: Bronzeware in Everyday Life: Producing Bronzeware for Practical Purposes

This part shows how the advent of ironware triggered a transition of bronzeware from sacrificial vessels to everyday utensils. The power of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty declined from the middle ofthe Spring and Autumn period 770–476 BCE, causing the heretofore rigorous adherence to social hierarchy to wane and slashing the production of traditional bronzeware. As ironmaking capabilities improved, weapons and tools came to be made out ofiron. Bronzeware was made to maintain a strict system of social status and power, but by the Spring and Autumn 770–476 BCE and Warring States periods 475–221 BCE, they were used primarily as everyday items such as mirrors or lampstands, except occasional, elegantly-decorated pieces.

Ancient Chinese Bronze Culture exhibition features digital images. Animal face patterns, which symbolize a god’s appearance and a ruler’s power, are projected digitally at the theme space of exhibit, thereby underscoring the significance of the bronzeware. Also there has been set up to further visitors’ understanding of ancient Chinese bronze culture. On display here are artifacts linked to Chinese events or antidotes familiar to many Koreans, presenting both interesting stories and fun things to look at. The inscriptions on ancient bronzeware are yet another form of historical record, containing important messages left behind by ancient Chinese. Digital contents also show the ways in which the bronzeware was produced and used, adding another layer of interest to the entire exhibit.

Digital presentations to maximize the impact of the items on display

Red copper was found by accident in China around thirtieth century BCE, marking the beginning of Chinese bronzes, and the chance discovery led to a medium that changed Chinese history. Moreover, the subsequent, tireless efforts of craftsmen gave rise to a brilliant treasure in blue-green hue. Bronzeware was initially produced to placate the gods and bore mysterious patterns on them. Although they became famous for their uncanny shapes, getting to view them up close was truly a rare occurrence. Now, the NMK offers a superb opportunity to see in a single setting bronzeware that was produced over a period of two millennia. In the process, you will find out what lies behind the mysteries of these bronzeware and enjoy a new experience.

Elegantly-decorated bronze vessel in a single showcase

Wine Vessel

Late Shang Dynasty, 13th–11th century BCE / H. 20.5 cm