Rituelles Weingefäss vom Typ jue

Texte

The Jue was probably the first ritual vessel cast in bronze, as early as in the Erlitou period (1880-1600 B.C.). As the bronze casting technology gradually matured, the shape and features of the jue became stabilized. The popularity of jue peaked in the late Shang or Anyang period (1300-1046 B.C.); it became the most common ritual vessel found in tombs and a key piece in the ritual vessel inventory. Its popularity began to decline in the middle Western Zhou period (976- 878 B.C.).

Bronze jue was a wine vessel used in ritual ceremonoies worshipping the ancestors. While some scholars believe that it was a drinking goblet, others argue that it was for pouring purposes. Burnt traces have been observed on some excavated jue, suggesting that the alcoholic beverage was heated up in the jue before being served. Many bronze jue were eventually burried with its owner in tombs, hence survived in large numbers and became known to us. Some of the jue, such as the present one, bears an inscription indicating the owner’s title or clan emblem, enabling us to learn more about their origin.
5. August 2021