Food Vessel (Dui)
Contributor
Place of Origin
Culture/Period
Date From
-475
Date To
-221
Materials
Height (cm)
21.3 cm
Diameter (cm)
24.3 cm (for the belly)
Accession Number
HKU.B.1955.0173
Description
Dui is a vessel developed from Gui.[1] In the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, Dui was originally used in ritual events to hold food and a symbol of social ranking. It is a combination of a bowl that holds rice and a covering lid. [2]
This vessel illustrates a typical Dui design that started in the late Spring and Autumn Period.[3] It is a sphere sliced open in the middle, creating two parts similar in shape, demonstrating advanced craftsmanship at that time. Both the bowl and the lid have two ring ear handles and three ring legs. So, the lid can stand alone and used as a bowl too.[4]
The bowl has a shoulder, straight neck and smaller diameter mouth, while the mouth of the lid is larger (子母口).[5] Therefore, the lid can be placed upon the bowl without disrupting its smooth appearance. Rings of grooves parallel to the ground (瓦紋),[6] one of the simplest decorative elements for bronze vessels, is used to decorate the vessel's surface. This may be due to Dui started to be used as daily food vessels during the Warring States Period, less focus on the aesthetics.[7]
The area surrounding the rings ears are flat and lower than the ridges of the grooves. Also, some ridges near the rings are distorted, proving that the ring ears and the grooves were made separately.
However, Dui started to decline in the Qin and Han dynasty due to difficulties in production and lack of practicality. Dui was then replaced by other iron-made vessels and earthenware. [8][9]
[1] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[2] 谷朝旭, & 张懋镕. (2016). 中国古代青铜器整理与研究. 青铜敦卷 (Di yi ban.; 第一版. ed.). 北京: 科学出版社.
[3] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[4] Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Avery Brundage Collection & Lefebvre d'Argencé, René Yvon (1977). Bronze vessels of ancient China in the Avery Brundage Collection. San Francisco The Museum
[5] 李建伟., 牛瑞红., & 牛瑞红. (2000). 中国青铜器图录 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed.). 北京: 中国商业出版社 : 新华书店经销.
[6] 林巳奈夫, 廣濑薰雄, & 郭永秉. (2019). 殷周時代靑銅器纹饰之研究 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed., 殷周靑銅器綜覽 ; 2). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[7] 馬承源. (2002). 中國靑銅器硏究 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed.). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[8] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[9] Li, H. (1980). The wonder of Chinese bronzes. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.
This vessel illustrates a typical Dui design that started in the late Spring and Autumn Period.[3] It is a sphere sliced open in the middle, creating two parts similar in shape, demonstrating advanced craftsmanship at that time. Both the bowl and the lid have two ring ear handles and three ring legs. So, the lid can stand alone and used as a bowl too.[4]
The bowl has a shoulder, straight neck and smaller diameter mouth, while the mouth of the lid is larger (子母口).[5] Therefore, the lid can be placed upon the bowl without disrupting its smooth appearance. Rings of grooves parallel to the ground (瓦紋),[6] one of the simplest decorative elements for bronze vessels, is used to decorate the vessel's surface. This may be due to Dui started to be used as daily food vessels during the Warring States Period, less focus on the aesthetics.[7]
The area surrounding the rings ears are flat and lower than the ridges of the grooves. Also, some ridges near the rings are distorted, proving that the ring ears and the grooves were made separately.
However, Dui started to decline in the Qin and Han dynasty due to difficulties in production and lack of practicality. Dui was then replaced by other iron-made vessels and earthenware. [8][9]
[1] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[2] 谷朝旭, & 张懋镕. (2016). 中国古代青铜器整理与研究. 青铜敦卷 (Di yi ban.; 第一版. ed.). 北京: 科学出版社.
[3] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[4] Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Avery Brundage Collection & Lefebvre d'Argencé, René Yvon (1977). Bronze vessels of ancient China in the Avery Brundage Collection. San Francisco The Museum
[5] 李建伟., 牛瑞红., & 牛瑞红. (2000). 中国青铜器图录 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed.). 北京: 中国商业出版社 : 新华书店经销.
[6] 林巳奈夫, 廣濑薰雄, & 郭永秉. (2019). 殷周時代靑銅器纹饰之研究 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed., 殷周靑銅器綜覽 ; 2). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[7] 馬承源. (2002). 中國靑銅器硏究 (Di 1 ban.; 第1版. ed.). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[8] 陳佩芬., 吳鎮烽, 熊傳薪., 馬承源, & 熊傳薪. (2003). 中國靑銅器 (Xiu ding ben.; 修訂本. ed., 文物博物館系列敎材). 上海: 上海古籍出版社.
[9] Li, H. (1980). The wonder of Chinese bronzes. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.
Citation
“Food Vessel (Dui),” 3D Objects at UMAG, accessed May 3, 2024, https://cchu9080.lib.hku.hk/items/show/11.