Da Yu cauldron (大盂鼎)

Height: 101.9cm

Diameter at mouth: 77.8cm

Weight: 153.5kg

Time: Early Western Zhou (c. 11th–10th centuries BC)

Excavated in 1891, during the early Daoguang reign period (1821–50) in Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, Da Yu (ding) is the largest item of Western Zhou bronze found to date. Da Yu (ding), Mao Gong (ding) and Da Ke (ding) are the three bronze treasures of Western Zhou Dynasty. This cauldron has a circular body, a restrained mouth and carries a total of 291 characters inside, making it a valuable contributor to the study of the Western Zhou.