THE HU GUI: AN IMPORTANT INSCRIBED BRONZE VESSEL WESTERN ZHOU, 10TH CENTURY BC

of round and stout form with flared mouth and bulging belly, two loop handles issuing from animal heads, a frieze decoration with four S-shaped dragons, bisected by two raised animal masks and handles beneath the rim, with thin raised bands encircling the body and splayed foot

Private American collection.

Zhang Guangyu, “The Epigraphical Significance of the Newly Discovered Bronze ‘Hu Gui’”, Wenwu, 2000.6, p. 86-9.

Shouyangzhai, Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong Chinese University Museum, Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio, Shanghai, 2008, pp. 98-9, no. 33.

Zhong Bosheng, Chen Zhaorong, Huang Mingcong and Yuan Guohua, A New Collection of the Shang and Zhou Bronze Inscriptions and Images, Taipei, 2006, no. 1815.

Han Wei, “The Problem of Different People sharing the same Name seen in Western Zhou Bronze Inscription and its Impact on the Dating of Bronzes”, Dongnan wenhua, 2009. 6, pp. 113-16.

 

Shen Baochun and Gao Zuoren, Studies of the Selected Bronzes from the Shouyang Studio, Gaoxiong, 2009.

Chen Peifeng, “A Further Study of the Hu Gui”, A Collection of Papers from the International Symposium on Ancient Chinese Bronzes, 2012, pp. 71-76.

Wang Tao, "The Term ‘Red Metal’ in the Inscription of the Hu Gui and related Questions",  A Collection of Papers from the International Symposium on Ancient Chinese Bronzes, 2012, p. 77-88.

 

Liu Yu and Yan Zhibing, The Second Sequel of Inscriptions on Recently Found Bronzes of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Beijing, 2010, no. 432.

Wu Zhenfeng, Compendium of Inscriptions and Images of Bronzes from Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Shanghai, 2012, no. 05217.

There are two visible cracks on the bottom. The longer one is about 2 in. long and the shorter one is about 1½ in. long. There are large areas of hardened earth and heavy encrustation on the interior, exterior and bottom surface. One small area near one of the handles has encrustation with textile patches. Two small sections (each about 2 in. long) of the rim have old restorations. The inscription on the bottom is slightly worn.
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There is a long fifty-character inscription inside the vessel, which can be translated as:

On the first auspicious day of the fourth month, bingwu day, the king ennobled Hu, bestowing on him the dark embroidered knee-pads, the jade pendants, metal chariot parts (?), and announcing that (Hu) should take the position of Supervisor of Horses at Zheng. Shu Zheng Fu gave the acclamation of Hu's achievements and presented him with one jun of red metal (copper). Proclaiming the king's benevolence, Hu made this precious vessel. May his descendants treasure it forever.