Western Zhou Dynasty Yu Bo double-eared square seat Gui

Age: Western Zhou, Grade 1

Specifications: Total height 31cm, diameter 25cm, belly depth 13.1cm, square base height 11.3cm, side length 21×23.5cm, weight 9.3kg.

Excavation site: Excavated from Tomb No. 1 of Zhifangtou National Cemetery in Baoji City in 1981

Food container. Round mouth, narrow neck, deep belly, high ring foot, square base, two rectangular ears, slightly inward-pointing ears, two groups of large animal faces decorated on the belly, with round eyes, two horns curling inward, huge mouth, and a large protruding ridge on the bridge of the nose. Two groups of Kuilongs with their heads turned back are decorated on both sides of the animal faces. The ring foot is decorated with four groups of Kuilong patterns, with long bodies, arched backs, curled tails, facing each other, separated by a ridge in the middle. The two animal ears are made of ox heads, with upright horns, two ears standing sideways, and a protruding snout. There is a vicious tiger lying on the ox's head, with its front paws grabbing the ox's ears and its mouth holding the ox's head. The connection between the ears and the body of the gui is the tiger's body, and its hind paws are digging the wall of the gui. Its long tail is drooping and slightly curled up, which is in harmony with the large beast face on the belly wall. The vicious tiger pounces on the ox. The layout is ingenious and spectacular. The ring foot connects the four high square seats. Each corner of the square seat is decorated with a group of embossed ox heads, and the four walls are decorated with four groups of large ox heads. The corner line is used as the central axis. The ox horns are slightly curved and stand upright outside the vessel. Both sides of the ox heads are decorated with Kui patterns with their heads turned back and their bodies folded. There is a hanging ring inside the ring foot, with a copper bell tied to it. When the gui is moved, the bell rings, which is crisp and pleasant. The whole body of the gui is lined with fine cloud and thunder patterns. There is an inscription of six characters in two lines on the bottom of the gui, "9f8323299b9cfcff639910945c81f77 Bo made the precious gui". This vessel has a solemn shape, ingenious design, rich layers, and a strong sense of three-dimensionality, reflecting the superb bronze casting technology of the time.