The Shang also cast inscriptions into bronze vessels, and it is through this medium that it has been possible to identify the only intact royal tomb at Anyang as that belonging to FU HAO (r. 1200-1181 b. c.e.), a consort of Emperor Wu Ding often mentioned in the oracle-bone inscriptions. The practice of adding texts to the walls of large ceremonial bronze vessels was followed during the Zhou dynasty, and these have furnished much vital information. Before the growing corpus of bronze inscriptions attracted detailed study, the principal documentary sources of western ZHOU DYNASTY history were retrospective documents written long after the events. The degree to which such sources are reliable was the subject of controversy. However, the bronze texts have confirmed the general authenticity of the later documents and have added much new information.
The first part of the typical western Zhou bronze inscription provides the date, expressed both as the year in which a great event took place, usually describing an occurrence such as a ritual offering to a royal ancestor, and then a more specific calendar reference. This is followed by a description of the incident that led to the commemorative bronze’s casting. Such events are often of first-class importance, as it is desired to identify historic events, such as wars between Zhou rulers and their enemies. They also provide information on how battles were fought. Thus the Duo You cauldron describes a battle between the Zhou and the Xianyun, in which 23 manacled prisoners were herded for interrogation, and 117 enemy chariots were captured. The Ci ding records a second type of historic event, the loyal investiture of Ci, a high official, and mentions the emperor’s taking his place at dawn for the proceedings. The description of the event is then followed by a recording of gifts usually provided by the king for the person who had the commemorative vessel cast. The inscriptions offer fresh and contemporary insight into the objects that were particularly valued. On one occasion, it was strings of cowry shells. The Mao-gong ding records donations of extreme opulence, including wine, a ladle with a jade handle, other jade ornaments, and a magnificent chariot with a canopy of tiger skin, bells, banners, and bronze fittings. Finally, the typical inscription dedicates the vessel to the ancestors and to future generations of the initiator’s family.
Bamboo Strips
Bamboo strips are a source of documentary evidence of growing importance, since they are usually recovered from high-status dated tombs. The Zushu Jinian (BAMBOO annals) were found in the tomb of King Xiang of WEI in 279 C. E. This king was interred in 296 b. c.e. The bamboo SLIPS in this case were tied together with silk cords, each containing 40 graphs. Although some doubt has been cast on their authenticity, there are solid grounds for believing that they are acceptable as valid historical documents. Another example of such inscriptions is from Yun-meng county in Hebei province. These documents are known as the Records of Major Events. Discovered in 1975, these 53 slips are each 23 to 28 centimeters (9.2 to 11.2 in.) long. They contain a description of the wars of conquest by the qin and date from 306 to 217 b. c.e.
World History
