3D Gallery of the IHP

This artifact was unearthed from the large-scale Western Zhou dynasty chariot and horse pit M3(AI建議: belonging to the State of Wey (Wei) during the Western Zhou dynasty,) at the Hsin-ts’un archaeological site in Jun County, Henan. The “zhou” 輈 was a structural component of a chariot that connected the vehicle body to the front. The ornament placed at its upper end, known as a “zhou” finial, served a function somewhat comparable to a logo on a modern automobile. Flaring outward like a trumpet, the cylindrical socket of this ornament is slightly curved and embellished on both sides with a double-headed dragon motif; and two rectangular holes, namely mortises, are opposite each other on the sides of the cylinder. The outward-facing circular surface features a coiling dragon motif. Cast from two clay molds, the upper central part of the socket retains a protrusion. Three holes have been worn through where the curved lower part meets the crossbar.