SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The discovery of the Jin royal cemetery at Beizhao of Qucun town, Quwo county, Shanxi province, in the 1990s, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. It contributes first-hand material for studying the history of the Jin state during the late Western Zhou period, and provides fresh evidence for a new understanding of Chinese bronze art during this period. I examine several of the bronze artefacts in detail. The pieces I have selected are unusual either in terms of their shape or decoration, or with certain stylistic and technological similarities with bronze objects from other sites. The results show that Jin bronze production largely belonged to the widely established tradition of the Zhou style. This tradition was developed and maintained in different regions largely because of its ideological significance in an evolving ritual system shared by the Zhou court and its vassal lords, but also because those regions shared the same bronze technology. But, far from being more of the same, the bronze art of the Jin state actually represents a remarkable trend of innovation, with influences and inspiration from various sources, in particular from the northern steppes. It is extremely important that the contexts of the finds reveal that many of the unusual pieces were associated with female burials. By examining these objects and their significance in the female domain, we can begin to determine the specific roles of women in Jin society and to address current issues in gender in the light of archaeology.