Ya-ch'ou Square Tsun

Cast Ya-ch'ou vessels have often been excavated from Su-pu-tun in Yidu, Shandong, so scholars believe that Ya-ch'ou represents the "Po-ku" clan mentioned in the ancient "Tso-ch'uan" text. Flourishing in the late Shang dynasty, this clan was exterminated by King Cheng of the early Western Zhou. About forty percent of the surviving cast vessels inscribed with Ya-ch'ou are rectangular vessels, sharing along with rectangular vessels excavated from the tomb of Fu Hao as splendid artifacts among late Shang bronze vessels.