



Published: January 27, 2026

Late Shang Dynasty
Overall height: 103 cm; Handle height: 22 cm; Belly height: 43 cm; Leg height: 36.5 cm; Mouth diameter: 80 cm
Reportedly unearthed in Hui County, Henan Province, in the 1920s
The Zilong Ding takes its name from the inscription "Zilong" cast near the rim on the inner wall of the vessel. Majestic in form, it is the largest round ding from the Shang Dynasty and is finely cast, representing a classic masterpiece of ancient Chinese bronze-casting technology.
According to accounts, the Zilong Ding was unearthed in Hui County, Henan Province, in the 1920s, later entered Japan, and subsequently circulated to Hong Kong. In April 2006, with support from the central government's Special Fund for the Acquisition of Key Nationally Significant Cultural Relics, the National Cultural Heritage Administration acquired the Zilong Ding for the National Museum of China.