Shang Dynasty Used Bronze

By:Lindsay Roland

The Chang Dynasty was around during the Bronze Age. The people learned to use bronze in different ways to improve their lives. The Shang people used molds to create item out of bronze. The technique was called piece-mold casting. First, a design was carved into clay. Next, they poured molten bronze into the mold. After the bronze had cooled and hardened, the clay was chipped away, leaving only the piece. Lastly, handles would be added. The Shang Dynasty produced weapons, such as axes, bronze chariots, drinking vessels,  and small accessories including hairpins. The Shang dynasty used bronze in these ways all through their existence, from 1600 BC to 1050 BC. The items  improved battle. With new weapons, their army improved. Samantha Wang, Shang citizen said, "We Shang people now have an advantage over our emimies and bronze completely changed the way we fight".  People could also have tools that lasted longer with bronze, improving their work. Bronze was not for most, though. Bronze was a sign of money or royalty. In kings tombs there was thousands of bronze items inside. Common items found included bronze tablets, with symbols on them.   

Spiritual Wine Vessel. n.d. Metropolitan Museum of Art.Shang dynasty, early Anyang period (ca. 1300–1050 B.C.), 13th centuryB.C.  
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shzh/hd_shzh.htm

The picture above shows a spiritual wine vessel, or a guang. This was used in ceremonies along with most of the pieces that the people of the Shang Dynasty made. A container like this was made by casting several different pieces. This specific guang, was most likely cast in the latter years of the dynasty.

<http://iis-db.stanford.edu/docs/117/ShangDynasty.pdf>

<http://ushistory.org/civ/9b.asp>