Rare Characters in the Museum - Series One

People who frequently visit museums might have a feeling that the words on the exhibit labels are both familiar and unfamiliar. Familiar because of every visit; unfamiliar because they can't read or distinguish them.

For example: 盉、簋、甗、戣、罍、鬲、匜、彝、卮、盨、觚、觯、斝……

In fact, some museums do not have corresponding Pinyin or annotations, and even if they do, it's hard to explain their meaning and purpose clearly.

Gong (gōng)

Shuowen Jiezi, Horns Section: “Gong (gōng), a drinking vessel made from rhinoceros (sì) horn.”

Shishu quoting Hanshi also said: “The rhinoceros horn gong is made from rhinoceros horn”

[Function] An ancient wine vessel. Shuowen Jiezi records that *gong* was a drinking utensil made from rhinoceros horn. *Si* is a mythical auspicious beast, and in ancient books, it also refers to a rhinoceros. Therefore, *gong* was originally made from animal horns, and later gradually came to be made of wood and bronze. It first appeared in the mid-to-late Shang Dynasty and continued until the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty, gradually disappearing in the late Western Zhou Dynasty.

The *gong* has a large capacity, some say five sheng, others say seven sheng, making it the largest among drinking vessels, often used for penalty drinks.

[Features] Usually an oval or square body; with a handle on top; generally with a ring foot, but also some with four feet; with a beast-head shaped lid. There are also entire wine vessels shaped like animals, with a small spoon attached. There are many styles, including various animal shapes like dragons, birds, cattle, and sheep.

The patterns on *gong* are very similar to those on *xizun* of the same era and also shaped like beasts. The difference is that the beast's neck of the *gong* is shaped into a pouring spout for easy pouring, while the *xizun* has an open mouth.

The Palace Museum, Qing Dynasty Qianlong, Imperial Inscription on Celadon Jade *Gong*

[Note] An antique celadon jade *gong* from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It also has an incised imperial poem in Clerical Script.

Gu (gū)

Shuowen Jiezi, Horns Section: “Gu, a drinking vessel for village banquets. One whose goblet holds three sheng is called *gu*.”

[Function] Ancient drinking and ritual vessel. First discovered during the Erligang culture period of the Shang Dynasty, it was prevalent during the Shang Dynasty and early Western Zhou Dynasty, becoming rare by the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty. *Gu* were also made of pottery, mostly as burial objects. *Gu* have a fixed capacity, some say three sheng, others say two sheng. Shuowen Jiezi states that “a goblet holds three sheng”; Liji - Liqi notes: “For all goblets, one sheng is called *jue*, two sheng is called *gu*, three sheng is called *zhi*, four sheng is called *jiao*, and five sheng is called *san* (*jia*).”

[Features] Usually with a ring foot, open mouth, long body, with both the mouth and bottom flared. That is, a trumpet-shaped high ring foot, a trumpet-shaped open mouth, a slender body, and a narrow waist.

During the Shang Dynasty, there was also a very similar *gu*-shaped *zun*. The difference between the two is that the *gu* is tall and slender with a narrow waist and a high ring foot; the *gu*-shaped *zun* is relatively thicker, has a smaller curvature in the belly, and a lower, outwardly flared ring foot, making it taller and larger than the *gu*.

Gu-shaped Zun

The Palace Museum, Shang Dynasty, Beast-Face Pattern *Gu*

Shanghai Museum, Shang Dynasty, Yellow *Gu*

The Palace Museum, Qing Dynasty Kangxi, Sky-Blue Glazed Flower *Gu*

Hunan Provincial Museum, Shang Dynasty, Shang Beast-Face Pattern Bronze *Gu*

[Note] Ceramic flower *gu* first appeared in the Yuan Dynasty and were widely produced during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mainly in varieties such as blue and white, wucai, and color glazes, mostly for display.

Hubei Museum, Bronze *Gu*

The Palace Museum, Qing Dynasty, Blue Glass Flower *Gu*

[Note] A square flower *gu* made by the Imperial Glass Factory of the Qing Palace's Imperial Workshops, entirely made of transparent blue glass.

Shanghai Museum, Qing Dynasty, Three Chi-Dragon Pattern Jade *Gu*

[Note] In the Qing Dynasty, many handicrafts such as jade ware, porcelain, and enamel ware included antique-style *gu*-type vessels, mostly for display.