周朝雖然擊敗了商朝，但宗教儀式的執行與祭祀青銅器的鑄造依然延續。然而，周朝的青銅藝術表現出了一個新時代的藝術情感。
周人不僅重視對死者的儀式，還表現出對生者成就的信心。舉例來說，這件酒器將藝術的想像與力量的展現相結合。酒器的中部鑄有勇猛的水牛頭，牛角突出，與下方四個向下延伸的刻痕相搭配，營造出一種能量外溢的效果。
酒器（尊）
中國，西周時期（約公元前1046-771年）
整體：29.5 公分（11 5/8 英寸）贈品來自霍華德·霍利斯及公司 1951.151
出處
?–1951年霍華德·C·霍利斯 [1899-1985]，俄亥俄州克里夫蘭，捐贈給克里夫蘭藝術博物館1951年–至今克里夫蘭藝術博物館，俄亥俄州克里夫蘭
引用文獻
Milliken, William M. “A Chinese Ceremonial Bronze.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 39, no. 1 (1952年1月)：6–7。提及及再現：第6–7頁
克里夫蘭藝術博物館。The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook。克里夫蘭，俄亥俄：克里夫蘭藝術博物館，1958年。
展覽歷史
A Cleveland Bestiary。克里夫蘭藝術博物館，克里夫蘭，俄亥俄（主辦）（1981年10月15日–12月16日）。
參考：何尊
何尊，西周早期青銅酒器，是一位名叫“何”的宗室貴族祭祀所用的尊，作於周成王五年，是西周已知最早的有明確紀年的青銅器。
1963年出土於陝西省寶雞市賈村，現藏寶雞青銅器博物院。何尊是中華人民共和國國家一級文物，首批禁止出國（境）展覽文物之一。內底有銘文122字，為研究西周初年的歷史提供了史料。何尊是“中國”一詞已知的最早出處。從何尊的銘文得知，最初的“中國”是指“洛陽”，因為銘文中“宅於成周”和“宅茲中國”所表達的是一個意思，“成周”指的就是“洛陽”，所以“中國”也指的是“洛陽”。
歷史背景
武王克商後，商代貴族殘餘以及東夷、南夷對新建立的周王朝仍構成巨大的威脅。針對這個問題，武王選擇當時“天下的中心”（即銘文中所謂“中國”）營造新邑作為鎮撫東方和南方的戰略基地。這在西周初年是非常重大的事件。何尊的鑄造時間是西周成王第五年。
出土過程
何尊的出土地點在寶雞市東北郊的賈村，這裡常有西周文物出土。賈村鎮西街的一戶陳姓人家，常年在屋後三米高的斷崖崖根取土，斷崖上面未取土處逐漸突出。1963年的一天，陳家老二為防止上方土塊掉落傷人，用鐝頭挖鏟時意外發現了一件古銅器。陳家人不知其價值，在清理乾淨泥土之後，用於裝盛糧食。1965年8月，因經濟拮據，陳家將銅器賣給寶雞市的一家廢品收購站。同年9月，寶雞市博物館的職工在廢品收購站將其發現並搶救運回博物館。最初稱為“饕餮紋青銅尊”。1975年在北京展出時，故宮博物院的唐蘭（一說馬承源）發現內膽底部有銘文122字，成為國寶級文物。
形制
何尊圓口方體，長頸，腹微鼓，高圈足，通高38.8釐米，口徑28.8釐米，底部長20.2釐米，寬19.8釐米，總重14.6公斤。體側裝飾有四道鏤空稜脊，以細雷紋為地，高浮雕，口沿下飾蕉葉紋，頸飾蠶紋圖案，圈足處也飾有獸面紋。整體造型雄奇，工藝精美。
銘文
何尊銘文 2020年8月14日 最早記載“中國”的青銅器何尊亮相中國國家博物館 何尊內底鑄銘文12行、122字，因底部破孔，殘損3字，現存119字。銘文記述成王繼承武王遺志，營建東都成周之事，可與《書經·召誥》、《逸周書·度邑》等古文獻相互印證，具有非常重要的史料價值。
原文：唯王初遷宅於成周，復稟武王禮福自天。在四月丙戌，王誥宗小子於京室曰：“昔在爾考公氏，克逑文王，肆文王受茲大命。唯武王既克大邑商，則廷告於天曰：‘余其宅茲中國，自之乂民。’嗚呼！爾有唯小子亡識，視於公氏，有庸於天，徹命敬享哉！”唯王恭德裕天，臨我不敏。王咸誥何，賜貝卅朋，用作□公寶尊彝。惟王五祀。
銘文記載了西周成王營建“成周”洛邑（今河南洛陽附近），在京室對宗小子的一次誥命。銘文大意是成王五年四月，開始在成周營建都城洛邑，對武王行祼祭之禮。丙戌日，成王在京宮大室對同族何進行訓誥說：“昔在爾考公氏，克逑文王，肆文王受茲大命。唯武王既克大邑商，則廷告於天曰：‘余其宅茲中國，自之乂民。’”（今譯：“你的先父公氏追隨文王，後文王受天命，武王克商後告祭於天，說：‘余入住天下中心，治理民眾。’”）成王將貝幣30朋賞賜給何，何因此作尊以紀念。
西周青銅尊常見問題
什麼是尊，它在西周時期的用途是什麼？
尊是一種中國青銅酒器。在西周時期（公元前1046–771年），這些器物主要用於宗教和儀式活動。它們通常由貴族委託製作，用於祭祀目的，祭奠祖先或紀念重大事件。使用這些器物的行為象徵著與過去的聯繫，延續傳統，同時也表現出主人權力和地位的象徵。
西周青銅藝術與先前的商代有何不同？
雖然周朝繼承了商代的儀式習俗和青銅鑄造技術，但其藝術表現出新的藝術情感。周朝不僅像商朝一樣強調祭祀死者，還表現出對生者成就和力量的信心。這一變化在像克里夫蘭藝術博物館所藏的尊器設計中得到了體現，這些器物通過大膽的動物圖案將藝術想像與力量的展示結合，展現出力量和活力。
能否描述一下克里夫蘭藝術博物館所藏的西周青銅尊的主要特徵和設計元素？
克里夫蘭藝術博物館的這件青銅尊來自西周時期，高度為29.5厘米（11 5/8英寸）。這件尊的突出特色是中部鑄有牛頭圖案，牛角突出。此外，器口下方延伸出的四個刻痕也為這件器物增添了力量感。這些設計元素共同營造出一種能量外溢的效果。
何尊的重要性是什麼，它與克里夫蘭藝術博物館的尊有何關聯？
何尊是西周早期的一件青銅酒器，製作於成王五年。它的重要性在於它是已知最早的有明確紀年銘文的青銅器。何尊內部的銘文包含122個字，為研究西周初期的歷史提供了寶貴資料，甚至首次記載了“中國”一詞。何尊與克里夫蘭藝術博物館的尊器同為來自西周時期的青銅儀器，展示了相似的藝術風格和文化價值。將兩者進行比較，有助於理解西周初期青銅器的常見形態和裝飾圖案。
何尊上的銘文揭示了西周初期的哪些重要信息，並且“中國”一詞的來源是什麼？
何尊上的銘文顯示，周成王繼承了武王的政策，包括在成周（今天的洛陽）建立新的都城。銘文記錄了此期間的祭祀活動。最為顯著的是，它揭示了“中國”一詞最早指的是洛陽，當時被認為是世界的中心。銘文中提到“宅於中國”，即是指將都城建設在成周，並且將洛陽視為“天下的中心”。
何尊創作的歷史背景是什麼，為什麼成周（洛陽）如此重要？
何尊創作的時期正值周朝鞏固政權的階段，武王擊敗商朝後，商朝遺留的貴族和東夷、南夷部族仍對周朝構成威脅。武王選擇在當時被認為是“天下的中心”的成周（即今天的洛陽）建立新都，作為鎮撫東方和南方的戰略基地。這一重大舉措為西周初年的重要事件，而何尊則是紀念這一歷史事件和周王朝統治命令的象徵。
何尊是如何被發現的，發現過程中有哪些措施讓它被認識到重要性？
何尊於1963年在陝西省寶雞市的賈村被一名農民意外發現，他當時正在挖土。當時這名農民並未意識到這件器物的價值，家人將它清理乾淨後用來盛放糧食。1965年，由於經濟困難，農家將該器物賣給了一個廢品收購站。幸運的是，寶雞市博物館的工作人員發現了它的價值並將其挽救。最初它被標註為“饕餮紋青銅尊”。直到1975年，故宮博物院的學者才在其中發現並解讀了銘文，最終確認它是國寶級文物。
何尊在形制、裝飾和銘文方面的特徵是什麼？
何尊是一件青銅酒器，具有圓口、方體、長頸、微鼓的腹部和高圈足。它的高度為38.8厘米，口徑28.8厘米。尊身上裝飾有鏤空稜脊、雷紋、頸部的蠶紋以及足部的獸面紋。內部底部刻有122字的銘文，詳述了成王在建立成周的過程中對武王的祭祀儀式，以及“中國”一詞的首次記載。
Western Zhou Zun
Although the Zhou defeated the Shang, the performance of religious rites and the casting of ceremonial bronzes continued. Zhou bronze art, nevertheless, reveals the artistic sentiments of a new era. There was as much confidence in the achievements of the living as observance of ritual duties for the dead. For example, this wine vessel combines artistic imagination with a display of strength and force. Bold images of buffalo heads with protruding horns were cast onto the middle section. Together with the four notched flanges extending downward below the flaring mouth, there is an effect of overflowing energy.
Wine Vessel (Zun)
China, Western Zhou dynasty
(c. 1046–771 BCE)
Overall: 29.5 cm (11 5/8 in.)
Gift from Howard Hollis and Company 1951.151
Provenance
?–1951
Howard C. Hollis [1899–1985], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
1951–
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Milliken, William M. “A Chinese Ceremonial Bronze.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 39, no. 1 (January 1952): 6–7. Mentioned and Reproduced: pp. 6–7
The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 799
Sullivan, Michael. Chinese and Japanese Art. New York: Grolier, 1965. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 18, fig. A
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 245
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 245
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 325
Barnard, Noel 巴納, and Guangyu Zhang 張光裕. Zhong Ri Ou Mei Ao Niu suo jian suo tuo suo mo Jin wen hui bian [中日美歐澳紐所見所拓所摹金文彙編 = Rubbings and hand copies of bronze inscriptions in Chinese, Japanese, European, American, and Australasian collections]. Taibei: Yee Wen Pub. Co, 1978. v. 7, no. 1286
Kathman, Barbara A. A Cleveland Bestiary. Cleveland, OH; Cleveland Museum of Art, 1981. Mentioned: p. 45-46, p. 62; Reproduced: p. 46
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1991. Reproduced: p. 7
Exhibition History
A Cleveland Bestiary. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 15-December 16, 1981).
Reference: He Zun
He Zun is a bronze wine vessel from the early Western Zhou period, used for ritual purposes by a noble family member named "He." It was created in the fifth year of King Cheng of Zhou's reign, making it the earliest known bronze artifact with a clear inscription from the Western Zhou period. It was unearthed in 1963 in Jia Village, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, and is currently housed in the Baoji Bronze Ware Museum. He Zun is a first-class national cultural relic of the People's Republic of China and was one of the first cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad. The inner base of the vessel bears an inscription of 122 characters, providing valuable historical information about the early Western Zhou period. It is also the earliest known occurrence of the term "China." According to the inscription, "China" originally referred to Luoyang, as the phrases "residence at Cheng Zhou" and "residence at this China" both refer to Luoyang, making "China" synonymous with this location.
Historical Context
After King Wu of Zhou's defeat of the Shang, remnants of the Shang nobility and Eastern and Southern tribes continued to pose significant threats to the newly established Zhou dynasty. To address this, King Wu selected the then "center of the world" (referred to as "China" in the inscription) to establish a new capital as a strategic base to pacify the eastern and southern regions. This was a significant event in the early Western Zhou period. He Zun was cast in the fifth year of King Cheng's reign.
Discovery Process
He Zun was discovered in Jia Village, located northeast of Baoji City, an area known for the frequent discovery of Western Zhou artifacts. A family living on the west street of Jia Village had been extracting soil from the base of a three-meter-high cliff behind their house for years. One day in 1963, the second son of the family, trying to prevent loose soil from falling and injuring someone, accidentally discovered the bronze vessel while digging. The family, unaware of its value, cleaned it up and used it to store grains. In August 1965, due to financial difficulties, the family sold the artifact to a recycling station in Baoji City. In September, workers from the Baoji Museum discovered it at the recycling station and saved it, bringing it back to the museum. Initially, it was called a "taotie-patterned bronze vessel." In 1975, when it was exhibited in Beijing, scholars Tang Lan (or Ma Chengyuan) from the Palace Museum discovered the 122-character inscription on the inner base, and the vessel became a national treasure.
Form
He Zun has a round mouth and square body, with a long neck and a slightly bulging belly, supported by a high, ringed foot. It stands at a height of 38.8 cm, with a mouth diameter of 28.8 cm and a base length of 20.2 cm and width of 19.8 cm, weighing 14.6 kg. The body is decorated with four hollowed-out ridges, with fine lei patterns as the background. The neck is adorned with a silkworm pattern, and the foot is decorated with animal face motifs. The overall form is striking, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.
Inscription
The inscription on He Zun consists of 12 lines and 122 characters, with three characters lost due to a hole in the base, leaving 119 characters. The inscription records King Cheng's continuation of King Wu's will to establish the eastern capital Cheng Zhou (Luoyang). This inscription can be cross-referenced with ancient texts such as the Shujing (Book of Documents) and Yi Zhou Shu (Book of Zhou) and is of great historical value.
The inscription reads:"King initially moved to Cheng Zhou, and again received blessings from King Wu's rites. In the fourth month, on the day of Bingxu, the King decreed to the young members of the clan in the main hall: 'In the time of your ancestor, the Duke of Gong, he followed King Wen, and King Wen received this great mandate. When King Wu conquered the great city of Shang, he then proclaimed to Heaven: "I will reside in this China, and govern the people." Alas! You, the young ones, may not know, but the Duke of Gong has received the command of Heaven, and thus you will properly serve.'" The King then bestowed 30 bundles of cowry shells to He, who made this vessel in memory. This occurred in the fifth year of the King's reign."
The inscription records King Cheng's construction of the capital Cheng Zhou (Luoyang, Henan Province) and the ritual sacrifices made in the fifth year of his reign. The King, in the royal palace, gave a speech to the He family, explaining the historical mandate passed down from King Wu.
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Zhou Bronze Zun
1. What is a Zun, and what was its purpose during the Western Zhou dynasty?
A Zun is a type of Chinese bronze wine vessel. During the Western Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–771 BCE), these vessels were primarily used in religious and ceremonial rituals. They were often commissioned by members of the nobility for sacrificial purposes, honoring ancestors or marking significant events. The act of using these vessels symbolized a connection to the past and the continuation of tradition, while also signifying the power and status of the owner.
2. How did Western Zhou bronze art differ from that of the preceding Shang dynasty?
While the Zhou dynasty adopted the ritual practices and bronze casting techniques of the Shang dynasty, their art reflected new artistic sentiments. The Zhou not only emphasized rituals for the deceased, as the Shang did, but also expressed confidence in the accomplishments and strength of the living. This shift is evident in the design of Zun vessels like the one in the Cleveland Museum of Art, which combines artistic imagination with a display of strength and force through the use of bold animal motifs.
3. Can you describe the key features and design elements of the Western Zhou Bronze Zun in the Cleveland Museum of Art?
The Zun in the Cleveland Museum of Art is a wine vessel dating back to the Western Zhou dynasty. It measures 29.5 cm (11 5/8 inches) in height. A striking element of the Zun is the inclusion of buffalo heads with protruding horns on the middle section of the vessel. Additionally, the piece features four notched flanges extending downward from the mouth. These design elements combine to create an impression of overflowing energy.
4. What is the significance of the He Zun, and how does it relate to the Zun in the Cleveland Museum of Art?
The He Zun is a bronze wine vessel from the early Western Zhou period, created in the fifth year of King Cheng's reign. It is significant because it is the earliest known bronze artifact with a dated inscription from this period. The inscription inside the He Zun contains 122 characters, providing valuable historical information about the early Western Zhou dynasty and even containing the earliest known written reference to "China." Both the He Zun and the Cleveland Museum of Art's Zun are examples of bronze ritual vessels from the same period, showcasing similar artistic and cultural values. Comparing the two helps to understand the common forms and decorative motifs used during the early Western Zhou Dynasty.
5. What does the inscription on the He Zun reveal about the early Western Zhou Dynasty and the term "China"?
The inscription on the He Zun reveals that King Cheng of Zhou continued the policies of King Wu, including establishing a new capital at Cheng Zhou (modern-day Luoyang). The inscription documents the ritual sacrifices made during this time. Most notably, it shows that the term "China" (中國) originally referred to Luoyang, considered to be the center of the world at that time. The inscription states "reside in this China" when referencing the decision to build the capital at Cheng Zhou.
6. What was the historical context surrounding the creation of the He Zun, and why was the city of Cheng Zhou (Luoyang) so important?
The He Zun was created during a period of consolidation for the Zhou dynasty after their defeat of the Shang. The remaining Shang nobles and Eastern and Southern tribes posed a threat. King Wu chose to build Cheng Zhou (Luoyang) to serve as a strategic base in the "center of the world" to pacify these regions. This was a major undertaking, and the He Zun commemorates this event and the mandate to rule.
7. How was the He Zun discovered, and what steps were taken to recognize its importance?
The He Zun was discovered accidentally in 1963 by a farmer in Jia Village, near Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, while he was digging for soil. Unaware of its significance, his family used it to store grain. In 1965, due to financial hardship, they sold the vessel to a recycling station. Fortunately, museum workers from the Baoji City Museum recognized its potential and rescued it. Initially labeled as a "taotie-patterned bronze vessel," its true importance was revealed in 1975 when scholars at the Palace Museum in Beijing discovered and deciphered the 122-character inscription, leading to its recognition as a national treasure.
8. What are the defining characteristics of the He Zun in terms of its form, decoration, and inscription?
The He Zun is a bronze wine vessel with a round mouth, square body, long neck, slightly bulging belly, and a high ringed foot. It stands 38.8 cm tall, with a mouth diameter of 28.8 cm. Its body is decorated with hollowed-out ridges, lei patterns, a silkworm pattern on the neck, and animal face motifs on the foot. The interior base contains a 122-character inscription detailing King Cheng's establishment of Cheng Zhou and referencing King Wu's mandate to rule "China."
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