Ritual wine vessel (fanghu)

Bronze Vessels of the Eastern Zhou Period

The Eastern Zhou period (770–256 BCE) consists of the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE) and the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). During this era, China was divided into a number of regional powers. It was also a time of great philosophical, social, and technological change. The use of iron first became widespread during this period, and this, combined with advances in agriculture, allowed for a degree of prosperity at many levels of society.

Reflecting the richness of the period, a variety of stylistic trends developed in bronze vessels. Definite regional styles coexisted with popular styles across regions; the highest-quality vessels, some of which were very large or had elaborately inlaid surfaces, were produced alongside simple and crudely cast vessels. Increasingly, ceramic replicas replaced bronze vessels.