In Shang dynasty, animal face patterns were the main patterns, and others included bird patterns, elephant patterns and fish patterns. Generally, the expression technique of combining the main pattern with the bottom pattern is adopted, that is, the animal facial pattern is the theme and palindrome is the foil to form the primary and secondary effects. The pattern structure is mostly separated and symmetrical.

In the Zhou Dynasty, various patterns, such as stolen patterns, ring patterns and double-ring patterns, were used to form two-way continuity, with reduced or no ground patterns, which had the beauty of simplicity and rhythm.

2. Different uses

In Shang dynasty, it was mostly used for sacrifice or wine vessels; In the Zhou Dynasty, it was often used as a ritual vessel or a souvenir to praise the virtues of the King of Zhou or to commemorate and give it to the nobles, or to exchange, get married, complain and cherish the memory of ancestor worship.

Extended data:

The bronzes of Shang and Zhou Dynasties in China were not only containers for objects, but also ritual vessels in ancestral halls. The number of bronzes can show the status, and the size of bronzes can also show the power.

Ding is the most important type of bronze ware. Ancient bronzes can be divided into four categories: food containers, wine containers, water containers and musical instruments. There are ding, Wei and so on. Ding is the most important ritual vessel.

Baidu encyclopedia-Shang and Zhou bronzes