Two weeks ago, at a significant meeting on the "Archaeology of China" project, held in Huainan, Anhui Province, a major discovery was announced. Archaeologists revealed that a bronze Ding unearthed from the "Wu Wangdun" site, the largest and most intricate high-status Chu tomb excavated to date, set a new record for the largest Chu cultural Ding found in China. Measuring 88.3 cm in diameter and about 1.2 m in height, this vessel surpasses the renowned Zhuke Dading (or "Chu Dading"), a prized artifact of the Anhui Museum. Although it doesn't rival the monumental Houmuwu Ding, its discovery has still sparked great excitement.
As China national treasure, each bronze vessel is not only a marvel to craft but also a supreme symbol of power. Historically, the Ding size indicated one's status and authority. Records show that ancient nobles cooked various meats separately in different vessel, directly serving from them. Later, the Zhou Li stipulated a hierarchy of Dings: nine for the emperor, seven for lords, five for ministers, and three for officials. Thus, their size and weight took on special meaning, remaining a point of fascination even today.
We know the largest and heaviest Ding in China is the Houmuwu Ding, but what about the second or third largest? To answer this, let's review the top ten largest bronze Dings in China. We've excluded recent creations like the 46-ton Yongle Bell, focusing on artifacts from the Bronze Age up to the Warring States period. Additionally, we consider only those housed in Chinese museums, excluding those in private collections or yet to be excavated.
1-Houmuwu Ding
- Period: Late Shang Dynasty (14th–11th century BCE)
- Weight: 832.84 kg
- Dimensions: Height 133 cm, Length 112 cm, Width 79.2 cm
- Collection: National Museum of China
The Houmuwu Ding, also known as the Simuwu Ding, is China's premier bronze vessel. In terms of weight and size, it far surpasses other Dings. Discovered in 1939 in Wuguan Village, Anyang City, Henan Province, it's the heaviest known ancient Chinese bronze artifact. Its massive structure is both majestic and solemn, featuring intricate craftsmanship. The body of the Ding is adorned with sophisticated coiled dragon and taotie (mythical beast) patterns, giving it an aura of imposing gravity. Its legs are engraved with cicada patterns, distinctly depicting the insect's body with clear lines. The interior wall bears the three characters "Houmuwu," commemorating the Ding's dedication to the mother of a Shang Dynasty king and showcasing a unique calligraphic charm.
The body and four legs of the Houmuwu Ding were cast as a single piece, while the ears were cast separately and then fitted to the body. More than a ton of metal was required to forge this massive vessel, involving complex techniques in molding, clay modeling, and casting. The casting of the Houmuwu Ding demonstrates that late Shang Dynasty bronze casting was not only large in scale but also meticulously organized and highly specialized, exemplifying the sophisticated bronze culture of that era.
2-Wu Dun Tomb Ding
- Period: Late Warring States Period (Chu State)
- Weight: Not yet disclosed
- Dimensions: Height 120 cm, diameter 88 cm
- Collection: Still at the excavation site
This bronze Ding, unearthed from Wu Dun Tomb, is set to break the record for the largest bronze tripod of the Chu culture. Currently, it's still lying at the excavation site with no additional information available. However, it's confirmed that the same chamber contains many other bronze artifacts. Such a complete and relatively uniform set of bronzeware provides systematic archaeological data for studying high-ranking tomb systems in the late Warring States period and the historical culture of Chu following its eastward migration.
3-Zhu Ke Bronze Ding
- Period: Late Warring States Period (Chu State)
- Weight: Approximately 400 kg
- Dimensions: Height 113 cm, diameter 87 cm
- Collection: Anhui Museum
The Zhu Ke bronze Ding, with only a few centimeters difference, is ranked third in size. However, it is still a heavyweight contender. Given that the weight of the newly discovered Wu Dun Tomb Ding is unknown, it's uncertain which one ranks second or third. Also known as the "Chu Bronze Ding" or "Great Zhu Ke Ding," it was excavated in 1933 from the Chu royal tomb at Lisan Guduizhu, Zhu Family Village, Shou County, Anhui Province.
The Ding is round with three legs and a slightly convex belly. Its legs resemble animal hooves and are adorned with swirling patterns in relief. Two ears are attached to the neck and protrude slightly outward. The Ding has a 12-character inscription starting with "Zhu Ke," referring to craftsmen hired from other states. This indicates that artisans in the Warring States period were no longer slaves but had relative freedom. The design of the Ding embodies power and grandeur, showcasing the owner's towering ambition.
4-Shang Zilong Ding
- Period: Late Shang Dynasty
- Weight: 230 kg
- Dimensions: Height 103 cm, diameter 80 cm, belly depth 43 cm
- Collection: National Museum of China
The Shang Zilong Ding is named after the "Zilong" inscription near the rim on the inner wall. This "Long" (dragon) character is the earliest appearance of a dragon in any bronze Ding inscriptions discovered so far. Besides the inscription, dragon motifs can also be found in the decorations on the upper belly of the Ding. The "Zilong" inscription offers crucial historical context, hinting that the owner might have been a prince or a powerful aristocrat of the Shang royal family at the end of the dynasty. Such a massive Ding symbolized authority and served as a hierarchical marker within the strict ceremonial system of the Shang era.
Legend has it that the Zilong Ding was unearthed in the 1920s in Huixian County, Henan, before being moved to Japan, then Hong Kong, and finally repatriated to China by the National Cultural Heritage Administration in April 2006. It now resides at the National Museum of China. The Ding is in excellent condition, with a magnificent, full-bodied design, making it the largest round bronze Ding from the Shang Dynasty. Together with the largest rectangular Ding, the Simuwu Ding, it forms an unparalleled duo among China's bronze treasures.
5-Chunhua Ding
- Period: Western Zhou Dynasty
- Weight: 226 kg
- Dimensions: Height 122 cm, diameter 83 cm
- Collection: Xianyang Cultural Relics Protection Center
The Chunhua Ding, also called the Bull-Head Kui-Dragon Ding, is the largest bronze vessel from the Western Zhou period and the largest round Ding of that era. It was found in a cluster of Western Zhou tombs, but the graves were looted long before discovery, leaving no inscriptions or emblems to clarify its origins. Because of its size and weight, some speculate that it could be the legendary Ding lifted by King Wu of Qin, though this remains unconfirmed.
The Ding is imposing, with intricate designs and a robust, grand style. It maintains the thick-walled, broad, and majestic characteristics of late Shang bronzeware. It features flat lips with two stan Ding ears, straight belly walls, and a column-like tri-foot base. The belly is adorned with three circular rings shaped like stanDing beasts. Each ear has dragons on the outer side, filled with thunder patterns. The legs are embossed with beast faces, their curved horns protruDing outward with sharp claws and open mouths. The main designs are complemented with thunder patterns. This Ding is crucial for understanDing the distribution of the Western Zhou people and their bronze casting techniques.
6-Huo Ding
- Alternative name: Fu Er Niu Tou Li Wen Ti Zu Huo Ding
- Period: Spring and Autumn Period
- Weight: 220 kg
- Dimensions: Height 93 cm, diameter 102 cm, ear span 129 cm
- Collection: Shanxi Bronze Museum
The Huo Ding is not only notable for its long name but also for its significant size and rich historical value. It comes from the Zhao Qing Tomb, the largest and highest-ranking tomb of the Jin State aristocrats from the Spring and Autumn Period. This magnificent Ding is undoubtedly the largest bronze vessel of that era.
It features a round opening, deep belly, and three sturdy hoof-like animal feet decorated with high-relief beast faces. The belly is adorned with intertwining kui dragons, kui phoenixes, and double-bodied chi dragons with bull heads. Its grand form and simple yet bold design give it a majestic and solemn beauty.
7-Da Ke Ding
- Period: Late Western Zhou Dynasty
- Weight: 201.5 kg
- Dimensions: Height 93.1 cm, diameter 75.6 cm, belly diameter 74.9 cm, belly depth 43 cm
- Collection: Shanghai Museum
The Da Ke Ding, also known as the "Shan Fu Ke Ding," was unearthed during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty in Ren Village, Famen Temple, Fufeng County, Shaanxi. In 1951, it was donated to the Shanghai Museum by Mrs. Pan Dayu. Alongside the Da Yu Ding at the National Museum of China and the Mao Gong Ding in Taipei's National Palace Museum, it's regarded as one of the "Three Bronze Treasures".
It is one of the largest bronze Dings with inscriptions. The Da Ke Ding has a majestic and solemn form with an inward-curved mouth and splayed belly. It features stylized animal face motifs on the neck, wave patterns on the belly, and taotie (mythical beast) motifs in relief on the feet. The 290-character inscription inside is evenly arranged, with rounded strokes and harmonious structure, offering valuable insights into Western Zhou administrative roles, rituals, and land systems.
8-Da Yu Ding
- Period: Western Zhou Dynasty
- Weight: 153.5 kg
- Dimensions: Height 101.9 cm, diameter 77.8 cm
- Collection: National Museum of China
The Da Yu Ding is considered one of the "Three Bronze Treasures". Its walls are thicker than the Da Ke Ding, with slightly outward-tilting ears, folded rims, and an inward-curved mouth. The belly is horizontally expansive, sloping outward towards the feet with less curvature, forming a vertical belly shape that rests on three hoofed feet. The neck is adorned with taotie motifs, and the feet feature similar motifs in relief, typical of early Western Zhou Dings.
The importance of the Da Yu Ding lies in its 19-line, 291-character inscription on the belly wall, which details an appointment bestowed upon Yu by King Kang at the ancestral capital of Zhou. This text provides valuable historical insight into the society of that period.
9-Si Mu Xin Ding
- Period: Shang Dynasty
- Weight: 128 kg
- Dimensions: Height 80.1 cm, length 64 cm, width 48 cm
- Collection: Yin Ruins Museum
Once again, a bronze vessel from the Yin Ruins in Anyang makes the list, this time closely associated with the legendary female general "Lady Hao." During the 1976 excavation led by Zheng Zhenxiang, two Si Mu Xin Dings were unearthed from Fu Hao's tomb, one weighing 128 kg and the other 117 kg. The 128 kg version is currently on display at the Yin Ruins Museum, while the 117 kg one is housed at the Archaeology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The rectangular Ding has a square rim, flat lip, upright ears, a straight belly with a flat base, and hollow columnar feet. All four sides of the mouth and corners are decorated with animal motifs. The interior wall is engraved with the "Si Mu Xin" inscription. The Si Mu Xin Ding is the museum's centerpiece, proviDing essential insight into Shang culture.
10-Niu Fang Ding
- Period: Shang Dynasty
- Weight: 110.4 kg
- Dimensions: Height 73.3 cm, mouth length 64.1 cm, width 38 cm
- Collection: Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taipei
The Niu Fang Ding is notable for the miraculous circumstances surrounDing its discovery. Initially, archaeologists were looking for oracle bones when they stumbled upon a Yin Dynasty cemetery at Northwest Ridge. During three excavations, they found Tomb 1004, which had been thoroughly looted. However, the southern wall of the pit remained intact, where they found two large square bronze Dings: the Niu Fang Ding and the Lu Fang Ding.
The Niu Fang Ding has square lips, folded rims, upright ears, a deep belly, and steep walls with a flat bottom. It features an inscription with the word "Niu" (bull). The hollow columnar feet are adorned with central ridges on all four corners and faces. The neck is decorated with a kui-dragon band, and each side of the belly bears embossed bull head motifs, making this piece an exceptionally valuable bronze treasure.
