Kang Hou gui
| Kang Hou gui | |
|---|---|
 The Kang Hou Gui vessel on display at the British Museum | |
| Material | Bronze |
| Size | 21.6 cm High, 42 cm Diameter |
| Created | 11th Century BC |
| Present location | British Museum, London |
| Registration | Asia OA 1977,0404.1 |
The Kang Hou gui (Chinese: 康侯簋) is a bronze vessel that is said to have been taken from the city of Huixian, Henan province, central China. Dating to the Western Zhou period, this ancient Chinese artefact is famous for its inscription on the bottom of the interior. It has been part of the British Museum's Asian Collections since 1977.[1]
Provenance
Little is known about the original context in which the bowl was found. However, based on its inscription, it is conjectured by archaeologists to have been deposited in
bequest.[1]
Description
This cast bronze
roundels and quatrefoils. A similar band (without the animal heads) is engraved on the foot of the container. The Kang Hou gui was chosen by Neil MacGregor, the Director of the British Museum, as object 23 in the BBC Radio programme A History of the World in 100 Objects.[2]
Inscription
The ancient Chinese inscription on the inside of the bowl tells how
Kang Hou (Marquis of Kang) was given territory in Wey. The inscription also describes a rebellion by remnants of the Shang dynasty, known as the Rebellion of the Three Guards, and its defeat by the Zhou dynasty, which helps to date the vessel. Because historians know when this unsuccessful rebellion against the Zhou took place, they are able to accurately date the manufacture of this important object to the 11th century BC.[3]
Gallery
-
Side view of the Gui vessel in the British Museum -
The vessel viewed from above with inscription in the centre -
Detail of theChineseinscription
See also
- Huixian Bronze Hu, also in the British Museum
References
- ^ a b British Museum Collection gui, British Museum, retrieved 22 December 2014
- ^ a b Episode 23 - Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel, Episode transcript, BBC, retrieved 22 December 2014
- ^ Chinese Zhou ritual vessel (gui), British Museum Highlights, retrieved 22 December 2014
Further reading
- J Rawson, The British Museum Book of Chinese Art (London, British Museum Press, 2007)
- J. Rawson, Chinese bronzes: art and ritual (London, The British Museum Press, 1987)
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