Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Room 10 | China 3000 BC-AD 800 gallery

Discover over 3000 years of Chinese history and culture through surviving artefacts, objects and texts.

China 3000 BC - AD 800 gallery

Zhou Dynasty

The Zhou people came from northwest China, and overthrew the Shang dynasty around 1050 BC. They maintained control by bestowing land and local power on those who were loyal to their rule, and by preserving aspects of Shang civilization. The style of Zhou bronzes differed from Shang in the use of heavier forms and bolder decoration.

In addition to ritual vessels, bronze was used for trappings and ornaments for horses, which the Zhou traded on their northern frontiers.

In 771 BC the Zhou territories divided into several independent states. Over the following centuries religious belief diversified, and the philosophies of Confucius and Laozi developed. Regional styles in manufactured goods became more evident and burial goods included painted lacquers and elaborate silks. Bronzes with gold and silver inlays show influences from beyond the Zhou frontiers.

Western Zhou

Bridle ornament (EA1956.1532) Bridle ornament (EA1956.1532)   Bridle ornament (EA1956.1530) Bridle ornament (EA1956.1530)   Bridle fitting (EA1956.1541) Bridle fitting (EA1956.1541)
Horse jingle (EA1956.844) Horse jingle (EA1956.844)   Linch pin from a chariot (EA1956.883) Linch pin from a chariot (EA1956.883)   Chariot linch pin in the form of a rhinoceros head (EA1956.884) Chariot linch pin in the form of a rhinoceros head (EA1956.884)
Bronze chariot fitting (EA1956.1444) Bronze chariot fitting (EA1956.1444)   Bronze chariot fitting (EA1956.1460) Bronze chariot fitting (EA1956.1460)   Bronze horse trapping (EA1956.1517) Bronze horse trapping (EA1956.1517)
Bronze horse trapping (EA1956.1518) Bronze horse trapping (EA1956.1518)   Ritual food vessel, or gui (EA1956.854) Ritual food vessel, or gui (EA1956.854)
Ritual food vessel, or gui, with coiled figures and taotie masks (EA1956.830) Ritual food vessel, or gui, with coiled figures and taotie masks (EA1956.830)   Ritual food vessel, or ding, with taotie mask pattern (LI1301.6) Ritual food vessel, or ding, with taotie mask pattern (LI1301.6)   Ritual food vessel, or fang ding (EA1956.834) Ritual food vessel, or fang ding (EA1956.834)

Eastern Zhou

Belt plaque with tiger and dog in combat (EA1967.126) Belt plaque with tiger and dog in combat (EA1967.126)   Mirror with nine directional points and T-shaped designs (EA1956.1562) Mirror with nine directional points and T-shaped designs (EA1956.1562)   Mirror with nine directional points and T-shaped designs (EA1956.1558) Mirror with nine directional points and T-shaped designs (EA1956.1558)
Ritual food vessel, or ding, with abstract and animal designs, and lid (EA1956.871) Ritual food vessel, or ding, with abstract and animal designs, and lid (EA1956.871)   Ritual food vessel, or ding, with hunting scenes (EA1956.887) Ritual food vessel, or ding, with hunting scenes (EA1956.887)
Belt hook (EA1956.1487) Belt hook (EA1956.1487)   Belt hook (EA1956.1488) Belt hook (EA1956.1488)   Belt hook with geometric design (EA1956.1489) Belt hook with geometric design (EA1956.1489)
Lid fitting with openwork design of intertwined serpents (EAX.1842) Lid fitting with openwork design of intertwined serpents (EAX.1842)   Ritual food vessel, or dou (EA1956.898) Ritual food vessel, or dou (EA1956.898)   Greenware ritual food vessel, or ding (EA1956.930) Greenware ritual food vessel, or ding (EA1956.930)
Notice

Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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