Wine Vessel

Archery Competition

Mulberry Leaf Picking


Warfare on Water

Wine Vessel

Stories Telling Pictures on the Bronze Wine Vessel

Archery Competition

This bronze wine vessel is densely decorated with lively scenes depicting various aspects of Eastern Zhou life.

There are three layers of scenes, and each layer is divided into two on the left and right. There are a total of 6 scenes of mulberry leaf picking, hunting, feasting, archery competition and the presentation ceremony to the winner of the competition, plus warfare on land and water.

On the right side of the exhibition board, left side of the first layer is about the archery competition. Nine people in total. There is a building at the top of the picture with an archery target in front of it, and several arrows are already hitting the target. There is a person under the eaves in front of the target who calculates the outcome. There are two men in visored hats under the eaves. The one in front is holding a bow just about to shoot, the one behind with one hand holding a bow and the other holding an arrow. To the right of the shooter, a figure with a high bun has just walked in and is stopping to watch. There are five people lined up on the lower level, waiting for their turn to shoot.

On the left side of the exhibition board, the left side of the first layer is the same picture as the one on the right, but the two people on the far right are missing, probably because there is no room to draw it on the vessel.

Mulberry Leaf Picking

On the right side of the archery competition is the mulberry leaf picking. The one on the right side of the display board is clearer than the one on the left, and you can see a total of ten people. There is a woman picking mulberry leaves among the mulberry branches on the left, and another person is climbing. There is a man and a woman on the mulberry tree on the right. There are 6 people under the trees. A man on the left holds a basket in one hand and a bow in the other, raising his head to greet the woman in the tree. There is a man and woman in the middle. The man wears a short sword on his waist. One hand is holding the hand of the woman, and the other hand is reaching out to the woman to take off the basket on her head. The woman holds a hook-shaped stick in her hand for the leaves pick up. There is also a couple of men and women on the right. The man is holding a basket in one hand and holding the woman's hand with the other. The woman is slightly coy. Below, there is a half-kneeling man holding a bow and arrow, with two preys behind him.

Warfare on Water

The third level is about a land and water warfare. On the left is a water warfare. There are flags in front of both warships, and the ship on the left also has war drums and Zheng. The ship is divided into two levels: upper and lower. There are ten warriors on the upper deck, six on the left and four on the right. Starting from the left, the first person is the commander, beating drums and Zheng. The second person holds a spear, the third and fourth people hold halberds, and a long spear is set between them. The fifth person holds a spear with both hands, and the spearhead is reaching the enemy's head. The sixth man has been in close combat with the enemy. He has grabbed the enemy's hair with his left hand, and is raising a sword to kill with his right hand, while his foot has been grabbed by one of the enemies.

The first man on the right had his head captured and fell to the deck. The people behind were holding halberds and spears to assist in the battle, with a spear standing in the middle. A man in the water holds a sword in one hand and drags the enemy's feet with the other. The battle situation has reached a fever pitch! There are six paddlers below, four on the left and two on the right, all rowing hard.

Although you can't see the expressions of the characters, these pictures are vivid and lifelike, and the content is diverse, which makes you never tire of it.