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Mao-kung Ting

Tags: bronzes | Mao-kung ting | National Palace Museum | vessel

The Mao-kung ting is a 2,800-year-old ritual bronze vessel that was used at the ancestral temple of the court. The 500 characters cast on its inside surface form the longest inscription found on the thousands of bronzes remaining from the Shang and Chou periods. From the seven-part inscription, we know that the Mao-kung ting was probably made in the first year of the reign of King Hsuan of Chou (827 B.C.).

Its inscription pre-dates historical accounts of the Western Chou in the Shang-shu (Book of Documents), making it one of the most important records of this period. For this reason, the Mao-kung ting is among the world's most invaluable treasures. Thus in addition to its historical value, the Mao-kung ting contributes vitally to the study of Chinese etymology and calligraphy.

 

Mao-kung Ting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mao-kung Ting

Late Western Chou dynasty (900-800 B.C.)

National Palace Museum

3D Virtual Collection Exhibition System