This is the most romanticised ding among the “Three Treasures of China” 海內三寶. The background story is one of largest mass migration of people in a single incident in the 20th century history. The Mao Gong Ding, together with 60,000 other treasures, travelled across the Taiwan Straits to its new home in Taipei.
Mao-kung Ting or Mao Gong Ding (Sacrificial Vessel) 毛公鼎
Bronze ware | Late Western Zhou period (857-828 BC) | Dimensions – H: 53.8 cm, Depth of belly: 27.2 cm, D: 47 cm, Wt: 34.7 kg | National Palace Museum Collection, Excavated from Dongjia Village, Qishan County, Shaanxi Province in 1843. 铜器｜西周孝王晚期（约前857年—前828年）｜高53.8公分，腹深27.2公分，口徑47公分，重34.7公斤｜國立故宮博物院藏，清道光晚期（1843年）出土於陕西岐山县董家村
Mao Gong Ding 毛公鼎 was excavated at the end of the Daoguang period (1821−50) in Qishan County, Shaanxi. Together with the Da Ke Ding 大克鼎 in Shanghai Museum and Da Yu Ding 大盂鼎 in National Museum of China, Maogong Ding 毛公鼎 is considered one of the 3 most important relics from ancient China.
Dings were used widely as ritual vessels and became hierarchical symbols during the Zhou dynasty (circa 1046−256 BC). This is the most famous ding, originally belonging to Mao Gong. There are 500 characters1 on the inside of the vessel, the longest bronze inscription known to this day. There was a recount and the number of characters is now 500.
This ding has a wide, flared mouth, a linked ring motif decorating the rim, upright handles, and three hoofed feet. The inscription, which can be divided into seven sections, describes how when Western Zhou King Xuan came to the throne, he was anxious to see the country thrive, and charged his uncle, the Duke of Mao, with governing the domestic and external affairs of state, big and small, and to do so conscientiously and selflessly.
Inscription in Mao Gong Ding
There are 500 characters in 32 lines on the belly of the cauldron, the longest bronze inscription known to this day. The inscription records the history of the late Western Zhou (c. 1046-771 BC), specifically the reign of Western Zhou King Xuan 周宣王 (r. 827–782 BC), the service of his uncle the Duke of Mao as head of government, and a list of the duke’s honours and rewards.
- “King Li misruled the state in his later years and lost fealty from his vassal states. He was banished to a place called Zhi, thereby Zhou entering a phase of fourteen years governed by joint regency. All over the lands under Heaven, old and new factions of feudal barons were still busy fighting one another when King Xuan succeeded the throne on death of his father. The passage in the inscription “…chaos and upheavals everywhere” probably refers to the very situation which gravely worried the new king.
- “That the first five paragraphs of the kingly pronouncement all commence with “So declares the King” or “The King declares” vividly conveys how anxious King Xuan was in seeking a capable hand to help him rebuild the state. Likewise, in the 2nd through 4th paragraphs, a series of forceful imperative statements uttered with “you shall NOT”, “you may NOT”, and “you are NOT to” further reveal the perilous turmoil the state was in, and the King’s urgent need at this critical moment for the dedicated service of Duke of Mao.
- “So the Duke of Mao was appointed by King Xuan to take charge of all governing matters in the nation, including proclamations of statutes and codes, education of nobility youths, training guards, and administering domestic affairs. Decidedly the Duke was installed in a position above all people in the nation but one. In accordance with this great responsibility he was also greatly bestowed upon with: ritual jade, personal ornaments, court wear, adornment for his carriage, trappings for his horses, and so on. The fact that this list of awards and rewards tops all others that were mentioned in any bronze texts clearly indicates the magnitude of the appointment.
- “The inscription text bears witness to the ‘King Xuan restoration’ in Western Zhou history [i.e. revitalization after the ascension of King Xuan, ending the Gonghe interregnum]. The first part of the text consists of King Xuan’s instructions to the Duke of Mao. The middle portion recounts how the King, upon taking the throne, fondly recalled how the King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou had enjoyed the Mandate of Heaven and established the kingdom, as well as the King’s vigilance and apprehension over inheriting the Mandate himself. The latter part lists in detail the generous gifts the King had bestowed upon the Duke of Mao.
- In closing, the Duke of Mao expresses his gratitude to the King, and presents the ding as an expression thereof for future generations.”
The details of the inscription in Mao Gong Ding
銘文內容見證了西周「宣王中興」的歷史，銘文前段為宣王對毛公的訓誥之辭，文中敘述宣王於即位之初緬懷周文王、武王如何享有天命、開創國家，他即位後對其所繼承的天命也戒慎恐懼。後段詳載宣王贈予毛公的豐厚賞賜。毛公於文末亦表達了對宣王的感謝，並願以此鼎傳之於後世。
毛公鼎 銘文:
王若曰：「父瘖！丕顯文武，皇天引厭厥德，配我有周，膺受大命，率懷不廷方，亡不閈於文武耿光。唯天將集厥命，亦唯先正略又劂䢃，屬謹大命，肆皇天亡斁，臨保我有周，丕鞏先王配命，旻天疾威，司余小子弗彶，邦將曷吉？跡跡四方，大縱不靜。烏乎！𧾱余小子圂湛於艱，永鞏先王。」
王曰：「父瘖！今余唯肇經先王命，命汝䢃我邦我家外內，惷於小大政，屏朕位，虩許上下若否𩁹四方，死毋動餘一人在位，引唯乃智，余非庸又昏，汝毋敢荒寧，虔夙夕惠我一人。雍我邦小大猷，毋折緘，告余先王若德，用仰昭皇天。申恪大命，康能四國，欲我弗作先王憂。」
王曰：「父瘖！𩁹之庶出入事於外，敷命敷政，藝小大楚賦。無唯正昏。引其唯王智，廼唯是喪我國。歷自今，出入敷命於外，厥非先告父𢉩，父𢉩捨命毋有敢惷敷命於外。」
王曰：「父瘖！今余唯申先王命，命汝極一方，宏我邦我家。汝顀於政，勿雍建庶人？毋敢龔苞，龔廼侮鰥寡。善效乃有正，毋敢湎於酒。汝毋敢墜，在乃服，恪夙夕敬念王威不惕。汝毋弗帥用先王作明型，欲汝弗以乃辟，陷於艱。」
王曰：「父瘖！巳曰及茲卿事寮、大史寮，於父即尹，命汝司公族、叄有司、小子、師氏、虎臣、雩朕執事。以乃族干（捍）吾王身。取徵卅爰。賜汝秬鬯一鹵，裸圭瓚寶，朱市、悤黃、玉環、玉（玉余）、金車、賁（糸屖）較、朱（鞹）（鞃）（靳）、虎（冪）、熏裹、右厄、畫（革尃）、畫（車昏）、金甬、錯衡、金踵、金豪、束？、金簟 （笰）、魚箙、馬四匹、（攸？）勒、金巤、金膺、朱旂二鈴。錫女茲（賸），用歲用政。」
毛公瘖對揚天子皇休，用作尊鼎，子子孫孫永寶用。
译文：
周王这样说：“父喑啊！伟大英明的文王和武王，皇天很满意他们的德行，让我们周国匹配他，我们衷心地接受了皇天的伟大命令。循抚怀柔了那些不来朝聘的方国，他们没有不在文王、武王的光辉润泽之中的。这样，老天爷就收回了殷的命令而给了我们周国。这也是先辈大臣们辅助他们的主君，勤恳奉天大命的结果。所以皇天不懈，监护着我们周国，大大巩固了降给先王的匹配命令。但是严肃的上天突然发出威怒，嗣后的我虽没来得及领略天威，却知道对国家是不吉利的。扰扰四方，很不安宁。唉！我真害怕沉溺在艰难之中，永远给先王带来忧惧。”
周王说：“父喑啊！我严正地遵守先王的命令，命令你治理我们国家和我们家族的里里外外，操心大大小小的政事。屏卫我的王位，协调上下关系，考绩四方官吏，始终不使我的王位动摇。这需要发挥你的智慧。我并不是那么平庸而昏聩的，你也不能怠忽苟安，虔诚地时刻地惠助于我，维护我们国家大大小小的谋划，不要闭口不说话。经常告诉我先王的美德，以便我能符合天意，继续勉力保持大命，使四方诸国康强安定，使我不造成先王的担忧！”
周王说：“父喑啊！这些众官出入从事，对外发布政令，制定各种徭役赋税，不管错对，都说是我的英明。这是可以造成亡国的！从今以后，出入或颁布命令，没有事先报告你，也不是你叫他们颁布的，就不能对外胡乱发布政令！”
周王说：“父喑啊！现在我重申先王的命令，命令你做一方的政治楷模，光大我们的国家和家族。不要荒怠政事，不要壅塞庶民，不要让官吏中饱私囊，不要欺负鳏公寡妇。好好教导你的僚属，不能酗酒。你不能从你的职位上坠落下来，时刻勉力啊！恭恭敬敬地记住守业不易的遗训。你不能不以先王所树立的典型为表率，你不要让你的君主陷入困难境地！”
周王说：“父喑啊！我已对这些卿事僚、太史僚说过，叫他们归你管束。还命令你兼管公族和三有司、小子、师氏、虎臣，以及我的一切官吏。你率领你的族属捍卫我。取资三十寽，赐你香酒一坛、裸祭用的圭瓒宝器、红色蔽膝加青色横带、玉环、玉笏、金车、有纹饰的蔽较、红皮制成的鞃和艰、虎纹车盖绛色里子、轭头、蒙饰车厢前面栏杆的画缚、铜车辔、错纹衡饰、金踵、金秜、金蕈席、鱼皮箭袋、四匹马、镳和络、金马冠、金缨索、红旗二杆。赐你这些器物，以便你用来岁祭和征伐。
毛公於文末亦表達了對宣王的感謝，並願以此鼎傳之於後世。
The Journeys of Mao Gong Ding
The Mao Gong ding was excavated in Qishan County, Shaanxi province in 1843, during the Daoguang Emperor’s reign. The famous artist, calligrapher and collector Chen Jieqi 陳介祺 (1813–1884) acquired it in 1852. He and his studio made precise rubbings of the inscriptions. Chen Jieqi was the first professional collector of full-framed Mao Gong Ding inscriptions, and his rubbings can be considered comparable to the first edition of a rare book.
In the Xuantong era (1909–1911) politician Duanfang 端方(1861–1911) bought it at 12,000 silver from the Chen family. In an attempt to reinstate the abdicated Qing emperor, he mortgaged the ding to Tianjin Dao Sheng Bank 华俄道胜银行 to raise funds.
Ye Gongchuo 葉恭綽 (1881–1968), Nationalist politician, was presented with the ding by friends, whom they bought the tripod from the Tianjin Dao Sheng Bank, which had it as a mortgage. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Ye family sold it to Chen Yon Ren 陳詠仁, a millionaire in Shanghai. In April 1946, Chen Yon Ren donated the ding to the Kuomintang Shanghai Government through a general in their army. In 1949, Chiang Kai-shek 蔣介石 (1887-1975) and the Kuomintang moved it to Taiwan, where it remains housed at the National Palace Museum.
Treasures across the seas – How Maogong Ding went to Taipei
The transference of the artefacts, which numbers more than 600,000, was orchestrated by Chiang Kai-shek, the former leader of China’s ruling nationalist party Kuomintang (KMT), as he escaped Mao Zedong’s communist Red Army in 1949 by fleeing to Taiwan during the Chinese civil war.
The Nationalist government obviously selected only the most important pieces from the vast royal collection when moving to Taiwan, as a symbol and continuity of their legitimacy. And among those was the Mao Gong Ding.
Today, China wants the collection back. The artefacts have been housed at Taipei’s National Palace Museum since 1965, but are increasingly at the root of a fomenting dispute between China and Taiwan. The National Palace Museum’s position is clear. It has unconditionally refused to return any of the items formerly displayed in Beijing. The museum also refuses to loan the artefacts to other countries due to fears they might be seized and repatriated to the Chinese mainland.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
- There was a recount of the number of characters in the belly of the Mao Gong Ding by NPM and it was revised from the original 497 to 500 (10 duplicate, 13 combined, and 2 cast incomplete), maintaining the record of the longest passage found in a bronze ware that has been discovered so far. ↩︎
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