Preface 7 The Origin of Chinese Bronzes 9 Classification of Bronzes 16 “The Earth Cherishes No Treasure” 51 A Long History of Development 60 Testaments of Ancient History 81 From Pictographs to Seal and Clerical Scripts 85 Myth and Reality 89 Technique of Bronze Casting 98 Characteristics of Fine Arts 110 Bronze Mirrors, Belt Hooks, Seals and Coins 115 The Spread of Culture and Cultural Exchange 121 Endless New Discoveries 132 Appendixes 166 Chronology of Chinese Dynasties Reigning Periods of the Later Shang, Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou Dynasties Index