: 141 Shang Dynasty Bronze

Chen Rui counted, a total of 547 pieces of bronze ware, including Fang Ding, Yuan Ding, Pan, Sword, Ou Fang, Sanlian, Zun, Fang, Ampoule, Puppet, etc., a wide variety, exquisite casters, beautiful decoration.
These bronzes have the characteristics of Shang and Zhou bronzes.
As everyone knows, the Shang and Zhou period was the heyday of the development of Chinese bronzes.
During this period, the number of bronze wares was large and varied, including ceremonial vessels, wine vessels, water vessels, and musical instruments.
Strange shape and beautiful decoration.
Another important feature of the bronze wares of this period is the inscriptions on the bronze wares of the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
From the late Spring and Autumn to the Warring States Period, due to the promotion and use of iron, copper utensils became less and less.
After Qin and Han dynasties, with the entry of porcelain and lacquerware into daily life, there were fewer copper utensils, simple decoration, mostly plain, and thinner carcasses.
Therefore, Chen Rui easily judged that these bronzes were from Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
More precisely, these bronze wares were from the Shang Dynasty.
the reason is simple.
Look at the inscription on the bronze.
The text of the Shang Dynasty is Oracle.
The text of the Zhou Dynasty is Zhou Yan.
Although the two texts are the same, they are still very different.
Therefore, Chen Rui easily judged that these bronze wares were from the Shang Dynasty through the inscriptions on the bronze wares.
At the same time, one problem can be explained.
The source of these bronzes.
Chen Rui can confirm and affirm that these bronzes were dug out by the British from the so-called 'archaeological discoveries' on Chinese soil from the early 19th century to the middle of the 19th century.
It is clear. These bronzes come from the same place, the same age.
Chen Rui speculated that in the early 19th century to the middle of the 19th century, the British excavated a certain tomb or a certain Shang site during a certain period of the Shang Dynasty.
Set aside these Shang bronzes.
Chen Rui took a locked box found from the captain's room.
The box is made of iron. Chen Rui weighed it in his hand, a little heavy.
The box was tightly closed, and rust blocked the gap in the box.
The box is impervious.
Chen Rui took a dagger, scraped off the rust from the box, and gently pried open the box.
The contents of the box are kept in a dry and dry environment for a long time, and they are very well preserved.
There are two items in the box.
Chen Rui carefully picked one from the box.
This is the logbook of the 'Gelsoppa'.
The paper is slightly yellow.
Chen Rui glanced over.
Log records:
1941, June 9.
The 'Ghersopa' departs from Guangzhou, China. Travel to Liverpool, UK. Ship a batch of Chinese bronzes and porcelain.
...
In 1941. June 21.
The 'Gelsopal' entered the Malacca Strait and docked in the Singapore harbor to replenish coal, food and water.
The chief mate Ander Abbot was sick and had to disembark. In Singapore, the captain temporarily appointed the second deputy, Clenzo Allen, to temporarily replace Andre Abbott, responsible for the work of the deck department, in charge of the navigation watch, cargo transportation management, and maintenance of the deck department.
...
June 23, 1941.
The 'Gelsoppa' sailed out of the Malacca Strait into the Indian Ocean.
Sailing was normal.
...
1941, July 12.
The 'Gelsopal' bypasses Cape of Good Hope. Enter the Atlantic Ocean.
Sailing was normal.
July 19, 1941.
The 'Gelsoppa' entered the North Atlantic, heading to the north and to the right, at a speed of 10.2 knots.
Sailing was normal.
...
In 1941. July 24.
The 'Ghersopa' entered the central waters of the western part of Beida, 520 nautical miles from the Azores.
We were in big trouble, and the sea suddenly blew a gust of wind, and a huge wave hit us.
The handwriting written here is very scribbled, and Chen Rui can imagine what it was like at the time.
Outside the cabin. A gust of wind blew across the sea, and a huge wave hit the 'Ghersopa'. The ship is in danger of overturning at any time.
At that time, the crew on duty who wrote the logbook was so nervous that the hand holding the pen was trembling, writing speed was very fast, and many letters were passed in one stroke, very scribbled.
‘Damn, the ship is sinking, we ’re done. "
The last letter 'y' and the last 'skimming' stroke were very long, and a long handwriting was drawn on the paper.
Obviously, of course, the ship began to sink, the seawater poured in from one side of the ship, the ship tilted, the crew member on duty shifted to the side, and the pen in his hand drew a long handwriting on the paper.
The logbook is an important statutory document necessary for the ship, and other important documents were locked into the iron box by the duty crew before the sinking of the "Gelsoppa" and were well preserved.
In addition to the logbook of the "Gelsoppa" in the iron box, there is also a list of items shipped by "Gelsoppa".
Bronze and porcelain.
Porcelain is described in great detail on the item list.
A piece of sky glazed bowl from Song Ru Kiln.
Ming Yongle. A flat belly gourd bottle with ears.
Ming Zhengde. Blue and white flower pattern halberd.
...
A piece of clear, yellow and green flower and bird pattern bowls.
...
A yellow and green colored flower and bird pattern bowl described all the characteristics of this item very clearly and very detailed.
However, most of the bronzes are described in the list of items in a very simple and comprehensive way.
A bronze tripod with an inscription.
One piece of bronze.
One piece of bronze.
...
For example, there is a bronze tripod with an inscription. As for the name of the tripod, Fang Ding is still round tripod, three-legged or four-legged, what pattern is there on the tripod, what inscription is on the tripod ... The basic characteristics of these utensils have not been described, they are very integrated and simple.
...
Even because there were so many bronze wares, the British staff who wrote the list of articles at the time wrote ‘Bronze wares’ at the end of the list.
‘A batch of bronze wares ~ EbookFREE.me ~ How many pieces, what utensils, what kind are unknown?
Why on such a very important list of shipping items on the ship, the items described are so comprehensive and simple.
Chen Rui speculated that the British probably did not know the origin of the bronzes.
When modern people knew a little bit about bronzes, when they saw these bronzes and recognized them a little, they immediately knew that they were bronzes of the Shang Dynasty.
People who have studied bronzes can even say that these bronzes belong to the period of the Shang Dynasty.
But the British did not know it at the time.
In fact, not only the British do not know, not even the Chinese.
You know, the world ’s understanding of the Shang Dynasty was
The discovery of the oracle bones started. (To be continued)