History and Literature

Owl-shaped Bronze Vessel of Zun

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Owl-shaped bronze vessel was found at the Fuhao tomb of the Yin ruins, Anyang, in Henan province. Fuhao tomb was excavated in 1976, as many as 468 pieces of bronzeware were discovered. They give convincing evidence of the highly developed bronze civilization of the Shang Dynasty.
Bronze vessel of zun was intended to hold wine. It is 46.3 centimeters in height. Angular and round spiral shapes abound, many of which, on closer inspection, appear to be serpents. Writhing snakes make up the bird's wings, and a serpent with bottle-shaped horns perches above the handle. Taotie-like motifs appear under the handle and on the bird's upward-turned eyes. An owl face can be seen above the tail feathers, and a smaller bird appears to peek out between the two main horns at the top of the vessel.
It was a innovative and unusual zoomorphic design by casters in late Shang Dynasty.

The Tomb of Fu Hao

The Tomb of Fu Hao is a burial chamber of a Shang queen that was unearthed in Yin Ruins by Chinese archaeologists in 1976.

Fu Hao

Fu Hao

Fu Hao was the wife of Wu Ding (the 23rd Emperor of the Shang Dynasty) with the posthumous title "Xin".
Jade Phoenix from the Tomb of Fuhao

Jade Phoenix from the Tomb of Fuhao

In 1976, a jade phoenix was unearthed from the tomb of Fuhao in the ruins of the Yin Dynasty.
Bronze Tomahawks

Bronze Tomahawks

Daggers, tomahawks, and arrowheads are among the weapons excavated, among which two big bronze tomahawks with the inscription ¡°Fu Hao¡° are most attention-getting.
A Bronze Dagger With a Jade Handle

A Bronze Dagger With a Jade Handle

The Jade handle is quite thin and fragile, apparently not a utility.
Square Ding with Flat Foot

Square Ding with Flat Foot

A kind of cooking utensil in the late Shang dynasty, the Ding is 42.4 centimeters in length and its mouth is 33.3 centimeters in width.
A Jade Woman kneeling down

A Jade Woman kneeling down

This jade woman holding her knee and sitting on her legs is believed to be the image of Fuhao.
Sitting Human Figure Pendant Made of Gray Jade

Sitting Human Figure Pendant Made of Gray Jade

This is the image of a slave, featuring a face similar to that of a monkey, wide forehead, garlic-like nose and small mouth.
A Jade Figure of Hermaphrodite

A Jade Figure of Hermaphrodite

Naked and light grey, the jade figure is standing with one side being male and the other being female.
Ivory Cup

Ivory Cup

Made of the root of a tusk, the ivory cup is shaped like a wine vessel, with a dragon-shaped handle leveling with one side.
Owl-Shaped Ornament

Owl-Shaped Ornament

This ornament was unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao, a consort of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty.