Lai plate

Age: Late Western Zhou Dynasty

Specifications: Total height 20.4 cm, diameter 53.6 cm, weight 18.5 kg

Excavation site: Yangjia Village, Mei County

Historical value: The plate is a water vessel, generally used in conjunction with a yi, and was used by the ancients for the ritual of washing hands and washing hands. The vessel has a beautiful shape, with a curved pattern decorated on the abdomen and ring foot, a beast head holding a ring, and the outside of the plate is covered with emerald green copper rust. It is the bronze vessel with the highest historical value unearthed from the Yangjia Village cellar. The plate contains 21 lines and 372 characters of inscriptions, which detail the history of the eight generations of the Shan family assisting the Western Zhou Dynasty from King Wen to King Xuan, a total of 12 generations of emperors in fighting, governing, and governing the forests and marshes. The inscription means: 逨说, my famous great-grandfather Shanfu, mighty and wise, knows how to appoint people, and is a wise and virtuous person. He assisted King Wen and King Wu in conquering the Shang Dynasty, accepted the great command of Heaven, comforted the vassal states in all directions, established the Zhou Dynasty, worked hard for the country, and followed the will of Heaven. My great-great-grandfather Gongshu was able to assist King Cheng, served the king, and accepted the great command. (At that time) the Rongdi in the north did not come to pay tribute to the emperor, (King Cheng) stabilized the four countries. My great-great-grandfather Xin Shizhong was calm and wise, and was able to settle distant and near things. The vassal states in all directions came to pay homage to King Kang. But the Guifang rebelled against the court. My great-great-grandfather Huizhong Huofu was good at politics and successful in strategy. He served King Zhao and King Mu, managed the four directions, and conquered Chu and Jing. My great-great-grandfather Lingbo was sharp-eared and wise, fulfilled his duties, and served King Gong and King Yi. My great-great-grandfather Yi Zhong spoke frankly and advised (the common people in all directions), (assisted) King Xiao and King Yi in governing the country, and made achievements in the Zhou State. My late father, Gong Shu, was dignified and respectful, serious and prudent, and consulted with the government. He had outstanding virtues and assisted King Li. Yu inherited the duties of my grandfather and father, and was respectful to his duties day and night, so the emperor often granted Yu rest. The emperor lives a long and boundless life, protects the Zhou state, and governs the four directions."

The inscription on the Yu Pan cleverly takes the eight generations of ancestors of the Shan family as the main line, and intersperses the twelve emperors of the Western Zhou Dynasty, such as King Wen and King Wu who established Zhou and destroyed Shang, King Cheng and King Kang who expanded the territory, King Zhao who conquered Chu and Jing, and King Mu who conquered the four directions, etc. It combines the great achievements of the emperor with the merits of the Shan family, praising the great achievements of the Zhou kings and showing the great achievements and glory of the family. At the same time, it also confirms the lineage of the kings of the Western Zhou Dynasty in "Historical Records" and confirms the authenticity of "Historical Records". It is a rare bronze history book.