Eternal Offerings: Ancient Chinese Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art

The collection of ancient Chinese bronzes at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is exceptional in its depth and rarity. It is generally considered to be one of the most important in the United States. The works span millennia, from the Shang through the Han dynasties (1600 BCE to 220 CE), illustrating the evolving function of ritual bronzes in Chinese society.

This luxuriously illustrated catalog, with essays contributed by renowned scholars and hundreds of thorough entries, is the first major study of the collection since the 1950s. The book features over one thousand rich, full-color illustrations, ink rubbings, and line drawings to showcase the elaborate motifs and unique details of these pieces and related works in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the artistry of the collection. Dating, production, and provenance are reconsidered in relation to the large-scale archeological finds of recent decades and through an analysis of the inscriptions. In addition to correcting narrow aesthetic interpretations by situating the objects in their original cultural context, many entries include technical studies using methods such as X-rays and CT scans to give fresh insights into the casting technology that was used to produce these vessels.

By discussing the ritual, political, and technical aspects of ritual bronzes, this fresh analysis provides a unique window into ancient Chinese culture. Students of history and archaeology with an interest in early civilizations will find this book to be one of the most up-to-date and wide-ranging studies of archaic Chinese bronzes now in print.

Exhibition dates: Minneapolis Institute of Art, February 18-May 7, 2023

Liu Yang is chair of Asian art and curator of Chinese art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. He has curated numerous exhibitions and has published widely on Chinese art and archaeology, including China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy and Cast for Eternity: Ancient Ritual Bronzes from the Shanghai Museum.