This is a bronzeware cooking vessel made by State of Chu, in Warring States Period. It was unearthed at Tomb of King of Chu in Zhujiaji, Shou, Anhui Province.

Shou, aka Shouchun in ancient times, served as the last capital city of State of Chu for 19 years. There are rich relics buried in this region. This tripod is one of the most precious ones. Zhuke Ding is the top second national treasure bronze ding unearthed in China so far. Its size and weight are only after Simuwu Tetrapod.

Among the “National Treasure” class collections of Zibo Museum in Shandong, there is a “Rectangular Bronze Mirror with Dragon Patterns” from West Han Dynasty. It was unearthed in 1978 at the Tomb of King of Qi of West Han Dynasty. It is the most precious relic among numerous relics and information discovered in that tomb.

This pair of pots are relics unearthed in 1923 at the Great Tomb of King of Zheng State in Xinzheng, Henan Province. Their design and patterns are almost identical to each other. One of them is now at its home province – Henan Museum; the other one is at The Palace Museum in Beijing.

Jin, literally means “forbidden”. It was used from early West Zhou Dynasty to Warring States Period.

Why was it named “forbidden”? Because the Zhou People concluded from history that both Xia and Shang Dynasties were failed because of alcohol abuse. So in Zhou Dynasty, the King announced the first Alcohol Ban in Chinese history: Wine Rules.

This bronze ware perhaps was unearthed around mid 19th century during Daoguang or Jiaqing era of Qing Dynasty at Liangshan, Shouzhang County, Shandong Province. There are six other bronze wares unearthed at the same time. All together, they are known as “Seven Treasures of Liangshan”. As the most precious one of seven, Taibao Ding was owned by several people, such as Li Zong-dai, Ding Lin-Nian, Xu Shi-chang, etc. Xu even wrote a poem “Song for Obtaining the Ding” to celebrate his ownership.