SONG Dynasty (960-1279 CE)
By any standard a golden age of civilisation, the Song dynasty witnessed remarkable advances in culture, commerce and technology. During this era, China famously invented gunpowder, the compass, movable type printing and government-issued paper currency.
The elite and literati collected ancient bronzes but used them only on special occasions to prevent damage from frequent handling of these precious antiquities. Consequently, they commissioned newly cast vessels with similar shapes and designs — what are now known as “late bronzes.” This revival of bronze craftsmanship fostered a taste for archaism, in which designs of ancient ritual bronzes were reproduced and later became a defining feature of Chinese culture.
Song dynasty late bronzes were recast to revive Confucian values and, by extension, to help restore political and social order. Unlike their ancient predecessors, which were used for religious or shamanistic practices, these vessels were employed primarily as incense burners, wine containers and flower vases.
The ancient palace collections from the Zhou (1046–256 BCE), Shang (1600–1046 BCE) and Han (202 BCE–220 CE) dynasties were copies, not forgeries, intended to cater to elite tastes and serve as reminders of past glories and ideals. Much later, the bronzes produced during the Song dynasty became highly prized by the Qianlong (1711–1799 CE), the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912 CE).