Asian Studies Collection: Chinese Art History

"Digital collection in Asian studies - A catalog of Chinese bronzes" is a grant funded project to digitize a 24-volume set of "Qin ding xi Qing gu jian" with "Qian lu" included. This is a catalog of Chinese bronzes comprised of detailed illustrations, inscriptions, and descriptions for over 1,500 bronze tools, utilitarian objects, and ceremonial vessels. The bronzes documented in this set were created and utilized during the Shang, Zhou, Han, and Tang Dynasties. For more information on the Shang 商 (ca. 1600-1045 BC), Zhou 周 (ca. 1045-256 BC), Han 漢 (206 BC-220 AD), and Tang 唐 (618-907 AD) dynasties, see "Chinese History (to Qing Dynasty)" from the University of Southern California.

This digital project is made possible by the George A. Smathers Libraries of the University of Florida to enhance the digital collection's holdings for Asian studies. This digital reproduction, which will be readily available online, should prove to be a valuable resource for art historians, researchers, and general public interested in the artistic and cultural history of China.

The detailed information below is from Hui-chun Yu, a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Chicago. Hui-chun Yu received her PhD from the Department of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University in 2007. Her dissertation focused on Emperor Qianlong's bronze collections and history of art collecting, art markets, and art consumption in early modern China.

Qin ding xi qing gu jian si shi juan fu qian lu shi liu juan = 欽定西清古鑑四十卷附錢錄十六卷

This set of catalogs presents a collection of bronze objects from four periods of the Chinese history: Shang 商 (ca. 1600-1045 BC), Zhou 周 (ca. 1045-256 BC), Han 漢 (206 BC-220 AD), and Tang 唐 (618-907) dynasties.

List of Chinese bronze vessels included in these catalogs:

1. Ding 鼎 - big cauldron used as cooking or holding vessel, usually with two handles on the rim and is supported by three or four legs
2. Zun 尊 - quadrangular or round wine vessel with a wide opening
3. Xizun 犧尊 - animal-shaped wine vessel
4. Lei 罍 - tall quadrangular or round wine vessel, often with small knocker-like lifting ring attachments
5. Yi 彝 - quadrangular or round shaped wine vessel
6. Zhou 舟 - small elliptical wine-cup
7. You 卣 - wine jar with lid and lifting handle
8. Ping 瓶 - jug
9. Hu 壺 - tall quadrangular or round wine storage vessel, usually in pairs
10. Jue 爵 - three-legged wine mug with a long groove spout
11. Jia 斝 - three-legged wine heating container with a pair of mushroom-like attachments on the top and a small handle on the side
12. Gu 觚 - tall slim wine beaker with a trumpet-shaped opening
13. Zhi 觶 - small oval wine mug with a lid
14. Jue 角 - three-legged wine mug with a lid
15. Dou 斗 - dipper
16. Shao 勺 - spoon
17. Zhi 巵 - small round wine mug
18. Dun 敦 - round food container with a lid and small handles on the sides
19. Fu 簠 - quadrangular food container with a lid that is similar to the bottom of the container
20. Gui 簋 - quadrangular food container with a lid
21. Dou 豆 - footed bowl with a lid
22. Pu 鋪 - footed dish
23. Ao 鏊 - shallow pan
24. Yan 甗 - cauldron-like steamer with three hollow legs
25. Ding 錠 - oil lamp
26. Deng 鐙 - oil lamp
27. Li 鬲 - cauldron with three or four hollow legs
28. Fu 鍑 - round cooking pot, usually with short narrow neck and narrow base
29. He 盉 - wine pot with a handle and a spout
30. Bing jian 冰鑑 - big ice bucket
31. Yi 匜 - wine vessel with a wide spout, sometimes with a dragon-shaped lid attachment
32. Pan - 盤 water basin
33. Juan 鋗 - deep water basin
34. Xi 洗 - water container
35. Yu 盂 - water container
36. Pen 盆 - water container
37. Liang 量 - capacity measuring utensil
38. Qu 區 - capacity measuring utensil
39. Dou 斗 - capacity measuring utensil
40. Po 瓿 - round-shaped pot, usually used for making and storing marinated vegetable
41. Fo 缶 - capacity measure utensil
42. An 盦 - round-shaped food box  
43. Jiao dou 鐎斗 - wine warming vessel
44. Lian 奩 - cylindrical food container
45. Guan 罐 - small storage pot
46. Jiu 臼 - small storage pot
47. Zhong 鐘 - Large bell  
48. Duo 鐸 - small bell with a clapper
49. Ling 鈴 - miniature bell with a clapper
50. Chun 錞 - bronze drum
51. Qi 戚 - big axe
52. Wu nao 舞鐃 - small rattle-like fitting that is associated with chariots 
53. Gu 鼓 - big bronze drum 
54. Dao 刀 - knife
55. Jian 劍 - sword
56. Nuji 弩機 - crossbow mechanism
57. Fu 符 - tally used as evidence of authority
58. Jue 钁 - dagger-axe
59. Gangtou 杠頭 - tube-shaped pole fitting
60. Yiqishi 儀器飾 - pendant
61. Zhangtou 杖頭 - pole fitting
62. Dun 鐓 - pole fitting
63. Jiuche 鳩車 - small toy, usually in the shape of a bird riding on a chariot
64. Biaozuo 表座 - animal-shaped pole fitting
65. Yandi 硯滴 - small animal-shaped container for dripping water on ink-stone
66. Shuzhen 書鎮 - paperweight
67. Hudou 糊斗 - ladle
68. Lu 罏 - incense burner 
69. Bi shou 匕首 - dagger
70. Jian 鑑 – mirror