Gui Serving Vessel of Zhui

This vessel for serving food is known as a gui. This work consists of a large body, arched cover, round knob, flaring mouth, round body, ringed foot, box-like pedestal, and dragon-shaped handles facing away from the container. The edges of the cover and mouth are decorated with curved and hooked designs, while the belly is decorated with the design of interlinked dragons. The pedestal is embellished with the design of curled dragons. The cover and body are engraved with the same inscription of sixty characters in seven lines. The text records how Zhui devoted himself and worked throughout the day and night without rest and how the ruler of Zhou awarded and praised him on several occasions. It continues to say how Zhui made this gui in memory of the great ancestor Wen and as a proclamation of his appreciation for the king’s kindness. This gui was used to venerate the ancestors, pray for longevity, and mark an excellent end for this loyal subject of the ruler. The descendants of Zhui would certainly have cherished this gui. Ultimately, the vessel belonged to the treasury of the Qing inner court at the Summer Palace.