10 · OBJECT · SHANG RITUAL

Liding

A cauldron for feeding the ancestors

Bronze ding vessels contained food offered to ancestors.

Museum documentation · free public access, no account required.

Specific historical recreation of A cauldron for feeding the ancestors, China; exact provenance not indicated, 12th–11th centuries BCE — **DECLARED VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION · EXISTING EDITORIAL RESOURCE · TRACEKEEPERS**
Generated reconstruction · Declared visual hypothesis
Declared visual reconstruction for museographic context; it is not a photograph of the original nor documentary evidence.

**DECLARED VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION · EXISTING EDITORIAL RESOURCE · TRACEKEEPERS**
Generated reconstruction · Declared visual hypothesis
Declared visual reconstruction for museographic context; it is not a photograph of the original nor documentary evidence.

History and context

Shang bronze tripod dings contained food offerings in ceremonies related to ancestors. Their legs, handles and decoration make the vessel at once tool, image and signal of resources.

The label avoids translating each animal mask as a named monster. Their meanings remain debated; what is certain is their role within elite ritual practices.

The liding combines a cauldron body and three lobed legs derived from ceramic forms. It contained food offered in ancestral ceremonies.

Its bronze concentrated labour and authority, but it was also an active vessel. Soot, residues and inscriptions can distinguish use, dedication and transmission.

Evidence and interpretation

Documented fact: The Met dates this liding to the 12th–11th centuries BCE and explains that the form derives from ceramic prototypes and was used for food offerings in ancestral worship. Interpretation and caution: The specific meaning of the taotie motifs and of each ritual set is not definitively known. Documented expansion: The Met dates its liding to the 12th–11th centuries BCE and explains its relation to food offerings and ceramic prototypes; it does not indicate an exact provenance. Expanded interpretation and caution: The exact meaning of the taotie and the correspondence between form and rank are neither universal nor fixed.

Catalogue facts

Narrative date: 12th–11th centuries BCE
Location: China; exact provenance not indicated
Material: Cast bronze in piece moulds
Context: Ancestral ritual
Curatorial reading: The documented fact and its interpretation appear separately in the evidence block.
Function: Food offerings in ancestral ritual
Technique: Casting in piece moulds
Documentary coverage: 2 museum, heritage, primary corpus or research sources for this stop.

A SHARED TOPIC, DIFFERENT MOMENTS

Objects connected through time

Follow a topic across the collections. A shared tag is a way to compare objects, not proof that one culture influenced another.

The order uses the midpoint of each approximate date range; ranges can overlap. Spacing does not represent elapsed time. Swipe, scroll or use the arrows. With the sequence focused, use ← / →, Home or End.

You are viewing

12th–11th centuries BCE

Liding

Ancient China

Approximate dating according to the record.

Current record

Bronze23 dated objects

4 / 23In the centre: Liding

Also connected, without a comparable date (6)

These objects are not placed after the others: an unknown date does not mean a more recent object.

Daegok-ri grave goodsGojoseon and early Korea · from c. 5th century BCE
Early metallurgyAncient China · c. 1900–1500 BCE
Four offerersIberians · Iberian period · individual dating according to catalogue
Iron changes the frontierGojoseon and early Korea · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE
The workshop inside the ditchYayoi Japan · 4th century BCE–3rd century CE, peak in Middle and Late Yayoi
Weapons under the LakeCeltic worlds · Mainly 3rd–1st centuries BCE

You can scroll the first group without JavaScript. The other topics are also available below.

Vessels

Before Sumer · mid-6th–5th millennium BCE · Sumer
Twin-chambered vessel from Cova de l’Or · Early Neolithic · VI–V millennia BCE · Prehistory
Before Egypt · ca. 4400–3800 BCE · Ancient Egypt
Before Nubia · V–IV millennium BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush
Before Gojoseon · Middle Neolithic, c. 4000 BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
Bevel-rimmed bowl · ca. 3500–3000 BCE · Sumer
Uruk Vase · ca. 3300–3000 BCE · Sumer
Before Yayoi · Middle Jōmon, ca. 3000 BCE · Yayoi Japan
Vasiliki · ca. 2500–2200 BCE · Greek worlds
Before the Greeks · c. 2400–2200 BCE · Greek worlds
Before Ancient China · c. 2500–2000 BCE · Ancient China
Longshan · c. 2500–2000 BCE · Ancient China
Kerma vessel · c. 1802–1640 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush
Grave Circle A and Chrysolakkos · 18th–16th centuries BCE · Greek worlds
Before Vedic India · c. 1900–1300 BCE · Vedic and later Indian worlds
Jue · c. sixteenth century BCE · Ancient China
Pithos · c. 1450–1375 BCE · Greek worlds
Tutankhamun's grave goods · death towards 1323 BCE · Ancient Egypt
Stag Vessel · 14th–13th centuries BCE · Hittites
Valchitran · second half of the 14th century–beginning of the 13th century BCE, according to NAIM; other publications use wider intervals from the Late Bronze. · Thracians
Liding · 12th–11th centuries BCE · Ancient China — You are viewing
Before the Iberias · Final Bronze, c. 1000 BCE · Iberians
Grey bowl from Hastinapura · c. 1100–800 BCE in the classical sequence of Hastinapura · Vedic and later Indian worlds
Before Etruscans and Rome · ca. 850–800 BCE · Etruscans and Rome
The urn under the helmet · 9th–8th centuries BCE · Etruscans and Rome
Tomb 1 at Kuntur Wasi · c. 800 BCE · Pre-Inca cultures
Regolini-Galassi tomb · ca. 675–650 BCE · Etruscans and Rome
The great Greek krater of Vix · ≈530–500 BCE · Greek worlds
Scorțaru cauldron · 6th–5th centuries BCE · Thracians
Vix Tomb · c. 500 BCE · Celtic worlds
Orpheus among the Thracians · circa 440 BCE; attributed to the London Painter E 497. · Thracians
Twenty-six voiceless signs · 5th–4th centuries BCE · Scythians and Saka
Rogozen · mainly 5th–4th centuries BCE; The set has a history of accumulation, not a single manufacturing date. · Thracians
Grave goods of Baza and Toya · First half of the 4th century BCE · Iberians
The Attic krater that took on a new life in Cástulo · 4th century BCE · Greek worlds
The silver amphora of Chertomlyk · 4th century BCE · Greek worlds
The Kul-Oba vase · 4th century BCE · Greek worlds
Faces of the Steppe · Second half of the 4th century BCE · Scythians and Saka
Poroina Mare Rhyton · Second half of the 4th century BCE · Thracians
Borovo · 4th century BC C.; 350–300 BCE in the ISAW catalog. · Thracians
Leipzig Fish Plate · Last third 4th–early 3rd century BCE · Greek worlds
Golyamata Kosmatka · End of the 4th century – beginning of the 3rd century BCE; ritual burial at the beginning of the III according to Iskra. · Thracians
Panagyurishte · late 4th century – early 3rd century BCE, towards 300 BCE · Thracians
Dove of the Amarejo · 3rd century BCE · Iberians
Mairena Hoard · 3rd century BCE · Iberians
Vase from Chão de Lamas · Piece: III–II centuries BCE · concealment ≈110–76 BCE · Iberians
Vas dels Guerrers · 3rd–early 2nd century BCE · Iberians
Warriors' Vase · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · Iberians
The dismantled cauldron · 2nd–1st centuries BCE · Celtic worlds
Kalathos of Alcorisa · 2nd–1st centuries BCE · Iberians
Patera from Perotito · Second half of the 2nd–beginnings of the 1st century BCE · Iberians
Urewe vessel · regional range c. 800 BCE–650 CE · Bantu-speaking worlds
Two rows of coffins · Mainly Middle Yayoi, 2nd century BCE–1st century CE · Yayoi Japan
Ceramics that continued · Last third of the 2nd century BCE–1st century CE · Iberians
Roman glass oinochoe · Late 1st century BCE–early 1st century CE · Etruscans and Rome
Gladiators Cup of Chavagnes · 25–75 CE · Etruscans and Rome
Egyptian oil lamp with a fish, held in Laon · 3rd–4th centuries CE · Ancient Egypt
Laon lamp with fish · 3rd–4th centuries CE · Etruscans and Rome
Water in a shell · 1816–1826 · San histories

Without a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):

A Kerma vessel deposited at Abydos · Second Intermediate Period · Ancient Egypt
A tradition that invents · collected in 1993 or 1995 · Batwa / Twa histories
A vase travels; the rite changes · No individual dating published on this record · Iberians
Early pottery · before ca. 9400 cal BCE · Mande Worlds
Liédena Flask · Roman period · individual chronology not published in the entry · Etruscans and Rome
Made in Garama · I millennium BCE–I millennium CE · Garamantes
Oil in a calabash · ca. 1947 · Batwa / Twa histories
The unfinished gesture · 1947 · Batwa / Twa histories
Travelling objects · Mainly Roman period · Garamantes
Urns from Adichanallur · Iron Age · samples towards 665 and 467 BCE · Vedic and later Indian worlds
Vessels without a language · Urewe, broad regional range ca. 800 BCE–650 CE · Bantu-speaking worlds

Casting

Akkadian sovereign head · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · Sumer
Bassetki Statue · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · Sumer
Jue · c. sixteenth century BCE · Ancient China
Bull-leaping · c. 1600–1450 BCE · Greek worlds
Liding · 12th–11th centuries BCE · Ancient China — You are viewing
Talayotic sword · ≈1200–1000 BCE · destruction of the talayot towards 790 BCE · Iberians
The lute-shaped dagger · Towards 1000–400 BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
The great Greek krater of Vix · ≈530–500 BCE · Greek worlds
Scorțaru cauldron · 6th–5th centuries BCE · Thracians
A battle on a comb · Early 4th century BCE · Scythians and Saka
The blade became straight · 5th–1st centuries BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
Geometry in very fine lines · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
Eight voices in one hand · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
Fibula from Lancia · ≈300–100 BCE · Iberians
Horse fibula · 2nd century BCE · disputed chronology · Iberians
A sky over the liver · End of the second–beginning of the first century BCE · Etruscans and Rome
Thirty-nine buried bells · Buried towards the 1st century BCE–1st century CE · Yayoi Japan
Kongo crucifix · 16th–17th centuries · Bantu-speaking worlds

Without a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):

Early metallurgy · c. 1900–1500 BCE · Ancient China
Four offerers · Iberian period · individual dating according to catalogue · Iberians
Piece-mold casting · c. 1600–1046 BCE · Ancient China

Food preparation

Without a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):

Canal and field · IV–III millennium BCE · Sumer
Early pottery · before ca. 9400 cal BCE · Mande Worlds
Soma stones · Rigvedic strata; later ritual tradition · Vedic and later Indian worlds

Worship and offerings

Uruk Vase · ca. 3300–3000 BCE · Sumer
Worshiper of Tell Asmar · Towards 2900–2600 BCE · Sumer
Statue of Ebih-Il · Towards 2400 BCE · Sumer
Before Phoenicia · 20th–18th centuries BCE · Phoenicians
Jue · c. sixteenth century BCE · Ancient China
Rubber before the stadium · c. 1600–1200 BCE for the oldest specimens · Maya worlds
Wooden faces · c. 1600–1000 BCE, in several phases · Maya worlds
Liding · 12th–11th centuries BCE · Ancient China — You are viewing
Astarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · Phoenicians
Astarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · Iberians
The invisible mosaic · c. 900–600 BCE · Maya worlds
Offering 4 · c. 800–600 BCE · Maya worlds
Uni was also Astarte · Towards 510 BCE · Etruscans and Rome
The god on the roof · Towards 510–500 BCE · Etruscans and Rome
Thoth in the form of a baboon · 664–30 BCE · Ancient Egypt
Poroina Mare Rhyton · Second half of the 4th century BCE · Thracians
Eight voices in one hand · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · Gojoseon and early Korea
Thirty-nine buried bells · Buried towards the 1st century BCE–1st century CE · Yayoi Japan
Betatun altar · 1st century BCE–1st century CE · Iberians
Kongo crucifix · 16th–17th centuries · Bantu-speaking worlds

Without a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):

A tradition that invents · collected in 1993 or 1995 · Batwa / Twa histories
Four offerers · Iberian period · individual dating according to catalogue · Iberians
Lararium of Vilauba · Roman period · Etruscans and Rome
Livestock and mounds · c. 2050–1500 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush
Rome learns in terracotta · End of the sixth century BCE · Etruscans and Rome
Soma stones · Rigvedic strata; later ritual tradition · Vedic and later Indian worlds
The altar cord · Approximate composition and transmission c. 800–500 BCE, with revisions · Vedic and later Indian worlds
The Thracian Horseman · Roman era · diffusion especially in the 2nd–3rd centuries CE · Thracians
Translating faith · 16th–18th centuries · Bantu-speaking worlds

A closer look

About 1 min to read · 1 section. Further reading and sources · free access. Editorial review recorded: September 5, 2026.

The strength of metal changes the inherited form

The Metropolitan’s explanation contrasts the bulging legs of ceramic vessels with the more rigid and geometric solution made possible by bronze. In the liding one can follow that negotiation between a tradition of known forms and the possibilities of a different material. The comparison avoids seeing the cauldron merely as a repertoire of symbols: there were also decisions of structure, support and volume. The metal did not immediately erase the memory of ceramics; it allowed reworking and turning it into a lasting presence within the ritual service.

Museum · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Ritual food vessel (liding), 12th–11th centuries BCEAccess recorded: September 5, 2026.

Where it is held

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Item or group in the record · Documented collection

The holding institution is documented; public display may change. Check its official record before visiting.

Sources and references

Expand this information and consult its sources

Did you enjoy this exhibit?

Your opinion helps us improve the museum. You can change it whenever you like.

Loading your rating…

Liding

History and context

Evidence and interpretation

Catalogue facts

Objects connected through time

Liding

Jue

Bull-leaping

Fu Hao’s burial goods

Liding

Talayotic sword

Tribute to Assyria

Before Etruscans and Rome

The lute-shaped dagger

Kushite king

The great Greek krater of Vix

Scorțaru cauldron

Vix Tomb

Yan knife-money in the Gojoseon sphere

A coin with the memory of a blade

The blade became straight

Geometry in very fine lines

Eight voices in one hand

The Shield that Did Not Fight

Fibula from Lancia

A sky over the liver

Hand of Irulegui

Thirty-nine buried bells

Torreáguila fountain spout

A closer look

The strength of metal changes the inherited form

Where it is held

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sources and references

Did you enjoy this exhibit?