Jia (vessel)


A jia is a ritual vessel type found in both pottery and bronze forms; it was used to hold libations of wine for the veneration of ancestors. It was made either with four legs or in the form of a tripod and included two pillar-like protrusions on the rim that were possibly used to suspend the vessel over heat. The earliest evidence of the Jia vessel type appears during the Neolithic Period. It was a prominent form during the Shang and early Western Zhou dynasties, but had disappeared by the mid-Western Zhou.

Symbolism

The vessels had a ceremonial function. They were decorated with varying geometric designs and zoomorphic motifs, possibly symbolizing varying religious beliefs. There are several theories as to the origin and meaning of the symbolic iconography. Early Chinese scholars extended their traditional beliefs as regarded the symbolic meanings of the designs and motifs. They believed them to have a religious, cosmic, or mythical function. The Western historian Max Loehr has argued that the designs and motifs are ornamental and have no inherent symbolic meaning. There are no extant texts or sources contemporary with the creation of the Shang bronzes that offer descriptions or explanations of the symbolic meanings of the Jia vessels.

Function

The Jia bronze type functioned as a wine vessel. The bronze vessels were used at feasts as drinking vessels; they were exhibited in ancestral halls and temples, and most prominently buried in tombs for use in the afterlife. These bronze vessels were not for everyday use, as the ancients typically used lacquerware or earthenware for eating and drinking. The Shang were practitioners of a form of ancestor worship, which incorporated ritual sacrifices. They would make their offerings based on a calendar of ritual sacrifices. The sacrifices would include the presentation of food and drink, depending on the vessel type. The bronze vessels were used to prepare, and or present these offerings.

Décor

When it comes to the décor of the jia vessel, simple designs are most common. The lack of complex design is due to the jia vessel being one of the oldest vessel forms. As time progressed, vessel décor got more elaborate. While one simple band of décor was prevalent in early Shang times, towards the middle and late Shang periods more than one band of décor was more common. As the Zhou period began it was not unlikely to see a jia covered in ornamentation. The vessel shape changed to accommodate the change in decoration, and vice versa. When more elaborate designs are seen it is normally the taotie motif, or mask design. The taotie motif shows two dragon-like figures in profile, that together to form the taotie mask. Whorl circles were also a common decoration on the jia vessel. The décor on the jia can be classified by Max Loehr's five styles of Anyang bronzes. Style I is classified by thin thread relief designs, they are described as being light and airy and consist of simple forms. Style II uses a thicker ribbon relief. It has incised ornaments and harsh and heavy forms. Style III has more of a curvilinear design where only the eyes of the figures protrude and uniform like patterns appear. In style IV the decoration becomes separate from the background, which normally is made of the thunder pattern. The motifs and pattern are flush with the surface of the vessel. Style V vessels have decoration in a very high relief.

Vessel form

The form of the jia changed slightly through different cultural periods. The most common form consisted of two parts, a skirt and an upper section that flares out at the top. This form was developed based on older versions of the jia that which had hollow conical legs that opened to the lower bowl section of the vessel. These hollow legs were replaced by small slits in the early Anyang period, this allowed for bracing the core against the outer parts of the mold. Another variation on the shape of the jia is a rounded bottom and an almost spherical body. A jia with a flat bottom and no skirt has also been found and dated to a pre-Anyang time. After the Erligang phase the skirt was made less obvious and the silhouette appeared almost vertical.

Inscriptions

Inscriptions on Jia vessels are typically found on the handles or pillars. Larger inscriptions are found on the belly of the vessel. Only a small percentage of Jia vessel types have been discovered with inscriptions. The vessel known as the , from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco contains an inscription on the bottom portion of the vessel. The inscription depicts the symbolic characterization of a man, and on top of his head lay a cross-shaped symbol. This vessel gets its name from the modern reading of the symbolic nature of the inscription. The inscription, Yayi, appears frequently in late Shang bronzes; It is possible that the Yayi inscription on these bronzes makes reference to a particular clan. The Jia vessel from the Saint Louis Art Museum provides further textual insights into the function of these vessels. There are two characters located under the handle of the vessel. Max Loehr states that the two characters are qiu Yi, "fermented liquor, Yi." Loehr further states that when read together it appears to mean, "for libations for Yi."

Historical developments

Erlitou culture (first half of the second millennium BCE)

The origins of China's Bronze Age still remains unclear. Chinese historical writing suggests Xia is the first dynasty instead of Shang, which is not conclusively proved archeologically. Erlitou site shows Shang culture at its primitive stage which remains apparently Neolithic features.
In 1986, four bronze jia vessels are found from Erlitou in Yanshi, Henan Province. This site is approximately dated to ca.1860-1545 BCE based on calibrated carbon 14. They are cast by piece mold method. One of them has decorations featured by three bands of continuous small circles around the waist. This motif appears on other vessels from Yanshi.

Zhengzhou phase – Erligang period (mid-second millennium BCE)

The Zhengzhou Shang city was discovered east of Erlitou. Objects unearthed from the site of Panlongcheng represent the Zhengzhou phase. Stylistic similarities are seen from the two sites although Panlongcheng is not a very important city by then. Bronze vessels shared uniform styles across regions while later during Anyang phase outlying areas were diverging from the artistic tradition of central North China.
Max Loehr suggests that bronze vessel during Zhengzhou phase consist of three styles in their decor: style I is featured by thread relief which is incised in the model not on the mold; in style II, thread relief is replaced by ribbon relief which is carved in the mold not in the model; style III combines styles I and II with thunder patterns, quills pattern, and more bands of designs which are carved on the model not the mold. Jia vessels fit well into such categorization. The decorations develop from thread relief to ribbon relief with one or more vivid taotie mask according to how many sections they have.

Regional bronze-using cultures (15th–11th centuries BCE)

The Shang culture expanded early and vastly. So did bronze-casting technology, which laying the bases for provincial bronze-using cultures that was apparently distinguished from the metropolitan style. Systematic excavation of Shang sites in out of the civilization centered around the court just starts. The most found archaeological evidence contains bronzes and jades. Some are imports from workshops in metropolitan areas or faithful copies of metropolitan pieces. Others show radically different tastes. Areas that had strong ties with the court would have kept in better touch with the style of metropolitan fashions.

High Yinxu phase – Anyang period (about 1300 – about 1030 BCE)

Apparently, an obvious upsurge of activity at the Anyang site is extant during the long reign of Wu Ding, fourth of the Anyang kings. Obsessive numbers of oracle inscriptions from Wu Ding’s court record many sacrificial observances, during which the bronze vessels are surely essential.
One name that occurs especially often is that of Fu Hao. She is a royal consort and lady-general. Style IV and Style V of Anyang phase are seen from the two pairs of jia vessels in Fu Hao's tomb. In Style IV, images are popped out with real vividness. In Style V, images are raised up in high relief from the more flat thunder patterns in the background. Moreover, these jia vessels are squared-sectioned, one of the distinguishing features of Anyang Period. This fashion immediately faded away in Zhou. Moreover, square forms in these jia vessels show a new aesthetic favor.

Ritual revolution

During the middle to late Western Zhou period, changes in the ritual vessel types began to arise. The production of wine vessel types from the Shang Dynasty,, began to decline and would eventually disappear. The Hu 壺 was created at this time and would become the only vessel type used for wine rituals. The change in vessel types from those of high quality and variety, to mass and uniformity, suggests a movement away from the ritual function of the vessels to a symbol of the owners status.

Important examples

Neolithic period to Erlitou cultural period

Pottery Jia
Bronze Jia
H. 31 cm
H. 21.9 cm x W. 14.5 cm x D. 16.0 cm
H. 33 cm x W. 20.3 cm x D. 19.1 cm
H. 29.3 cm
H. 67 cm
H. 66.5 cm
H. 29.5 cm
H. 75.3 cm x W. 38.1 cm x D. 31.8 cm
H. 40.6 cm x W. 25.1 cm
Bronze Jia
H. 46.5 cm
H. 28.2 cm
H. 32.4 cm x W. 26.7 cm
H. 25.4 cm x W. 4.0 cm x D. 15.2 cm
During Ming and Qing periods, jia gradually becomes a tea drinking vessel, as recorded in Dream of the Red Chamber.
Jade jia is frequently mentioned in poems and other literary works: