Zilong cauldron (子龍鼎)

Height: 103cm

Mouth: 80cm

Weight: 230 kg

Time: Late Shang (1300–1046 BC)

Excavated in the 1920s from Huixian County in Henan Province, it remains the largest Shang-period round ding found to date. The cauldron got its name because of the two characters on its inside: "Zi Long." This ding has a thick and heavy body, featuring six paired animal faces, and a deep belly. The exquisite engravings reflect the high level of late Shang bronze technology and art. Because of their different shapes and long history, the Zilong and Houmuwu cauldrons are referred to by some scholars as the "Square and Round Masterpieces."