Zhou China

Zhou China (1050 - 221 BC)
Western Zhou (1050 - 771 BC)
Eastern Zhou (771 - 221 BC)

As time progressed society of Zhou Dynasty was becoming more and more different from the Shang period. This fact can be seen in the decorations of the bronze vessels of that time. One of the Shang traditions that Zhou abandoned was human sacrifice. The concept of two-eyed animal in Zhou dynasty period changed dramatically as ti became more dazzling than terrifying. These trend were usuall the result of the influence on new philosophy (Conficious and Laozi).

Confucius (550 - 478 BC)
Confucius work concentrated on human society based on human relations. Confucianism strongly affected the design of the bronze vessels.The designs were no longer abstract animals. For the first time the bronze vessels started to depict human interacting with animal world as part of the Confucianist duties of a real gentlemen


Lao Zi (6th century, little earlier than Confucius)
Lao Zi was the founder of Daoism. Unlike Confucius Lao Zi was more concerned with the people living in the harmony with universe rather than concentrating on just people themselves. Daoism is a concept of yin and yang. Yin represents everything negative and yang represents everything positive.

Hunting Hu
Title: Hunting Hu
Artist: Unknown
Location(Architecture):
Culture of Origin: Zhou China
Medium: Bronze
Patron:
Approximate Date: 550 - 211 BC
Description:
The design of Hunting Hu consists of people involved in doing five deeds of real gentlemen according to Confucianism. The five deeds are hunting, riding a horse, fishing, shoot arrows from a bow :) and ...


Title: Hu
Artist: Unknown
Location(Architecture):
Culture of Origin: Zhou China
Medium: Bronze
Patron:
Approximate Date: 500 - 211 BC
Description:
This particular Hu vessel is a good example of a vessel inspired by Daoism. The crane on the top of the vessel depicts yang and two symmetrical dragons (which are handles) depict yin. The vessel is in harmony with Dao.