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Beast-shaped bronze container from over 2,000 years ago
Updated: Jul 21, 2025
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This loop-handled bronze he (liquid container), dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), is designed with a deep round belly and four sturdy legs. It resembles a beast blending mythical creatures from both Chinese and Western traditions—a White Tiger as the spout, a Vermilion Bird atop the lid, and Azure Dragons around the body’s sides, each with five wings, recalling the griffin of Western mythology.
Unearthed in Jingchuan county, Gansu province, this piece now tells stories of early cultural exchange before the Silk Road officially opened. Collection: Gansu Provincial Museum.
