The Orchid Pavilion Gathering series, hosted annually by China Institute Gallery, celebrates the spirit of the renowned congregation organized by the scholar-artist Wang Xizhi in the spring of 353 BC. This year, in conjunction with the spring exhibition “Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art,” curator Dr. Liu Yang will take the audience through a journey of art appreciation and intellectual discourse, with careful examination of the masterpieces on display. The remarkable historical gathering at Lanting in 353 BC has inspired generations of artists and historians, leaving an enduring legacy that even reached Japan, as seen in the 1913 gathering in Kyoto led by collector Naitō Konan. Spanning both time and geography, we invite enthusiasts of Asian art in New York to join us in continuing this tradition of literary assembly and raising a toast to the ancestors.
Schedule
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Gallery Walkthrough with the curator, Dr. Liu Yang
3:30 – 4:15 PM | Lecture “A Toast to the Ancestors: Wine Vessels of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties”
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Q&A
4:30 – 5:00 PM | Reception with baijiu
Lecture “A Toast to the Ancestors: Wine Vessels of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties”
Wine and its vessels played a crucial role in the ancestral rituals of ancient China, particularly during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE), where wine-drinking was central to ceremonies and state functions. Bronze wine vessels were not just practical containers but symbols of power and ritual authority. However, in the Western Zhou (c. 1046–771 BCE), royal concerns over excessive drinking led to a decline in their prominence, as food vessels became more dominant in ritual practices. Despite this shift, wine vessels continued to evolve, showcasing diverse forms and intricate ornamentation. By the Eastern Zhou (770–256 BCE), regional innovations introduced elaborate motifs, inlays, and new decorative techniques reflecting changing artistic and ritual traditions. Recent archaeological discoveries have refined our understanding of these vessels, helping to clarify their dating and authenticity. This lecture will examine the transformation of wine vessels from the Shang to the Eastern Zhou, emphasizing their ritual significance, artistic development, and the latest research findings that continue to reshape our knowledge.
Images:
– Jade mountain illustrating the gathering of scholars at the Lanting Pavilion, 1790, light green jade, the John R. Van Derlip Fund and gift of the Thomas Barlow Walker Foundation.
– Wine vessel in double-owl shape you, late Shang dynasty (c. 1300-1046 BCE), bronze, bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury.
