Cultural Relic: What?? This Bronze Gong is…

When you look at this animal-like relic, have you wondered what the ancient Chinese used it for? Acutally, this is a drinking vessel.

The gong first appeared in Shang Dynasty and continued to be in vogue up to early Western Zhou.

It is shaped like an animal with four legs or has a ring or square base. The gong in the picture has an oblong body, which bulges slightly in the center of the bottom, two forelegs like the hoofs of an animal, and two hind legs like the claws of a bird.

Copyright: A Journey into China’s Antiquity– Chinese History in Cultural Relics, Blossom Press

Photo/IC