Date: Late Spring and Autumn (early 6th century - 476 BC)
Dimensions: Height 44.9, Diameter of mouth 75 cm, Diameter of base 39 cm
Weight: 63,000 g
Material: Bronze
Excavated in Hui County, Henan Province

• Object Type：
  • BRONZE
• Location：
  • Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery
• Tag：
  • jian water vessel fu chai wu spring and autumn bronze

Jian is a large water vessel. Based on evidence from historical records and archaeological findings, Jian had several functions: as a water vessel; a container for ice to keep food cold; and as a mirror before bronze mirrors became popular. People also used it for bathing. Jian appeared in mid-Spring and Autumn period and became popular in later of this period and during the subsequent Warring States period. The Western Han still saw its cast. 
This piece of work has two horned dragons with coiled tails climbing up on the front and back of the vessel with the front claws and noses on the rim, looking very vivid and lively. The neck and belly of the vessel are decorated with interlaced dragon designs. The kind of tangled and spiral dragon design was a fashion in the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods. Inside the vessel, there are two lines inscribed with thirteen characters recording that Fu Chai, King of Wu selected the best bronze and had this Jian made for his own use.