Jue (vessel) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jue |
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A jue (pronounced "jweh") is an ancient Chinese cup. It was used to serve warm wine during special ceremonies. These ceremonies honored ancestors. Jue cups have a unique shape. They have a round body and stand on three long, spread-out legs. One side has a long curved spout, and the other has a balancing tail. Many jue cups also have handles and two small posts on top. These posts might have helped people lift the cup with straps. Jue cups are often decorated with cool designs of mythical creatures called taotie.
Contents
History of the Jue Cup
The jue cup first appeared a very long time ago. It started in the Neolithic period, around 2500 to 2000 BC. This was during the time of the Longshan culture. Back then, they were made from pottery.
From Pottery to Bronze
Later, during the Shang Dynasty and Zhou dynasty (the Bronze Age in China), the jue became very important. It was one of many special objects made from bronze. These bronze items were used in rituals. Even after bronze became popular, people still made jue cups from pottery and lead. These copies were often placed in tombs as grave goods.
How Jue Cups Were Made
Most jue cups were made by pouring hot, melted metal into pottery molds. This was a common way to make bronze objects in China. However, one jue cup was found that was made differently. It was hammered from a sheet of metal. This method might have come from western Asia. Bronze making was developed there much earlier than in China.
What Were Jue Cups Used For?
Jue cups were very common in the tombs of important people during the Shang dynasty. This shows how important they were.
Ritual Use and Ceremonies
Ancient writings on oracle bones tell us about their use. They suggest jue cups were used to heat and pour wine. This happened during special ceremonies. In these ceremonies, people would ask their ancestors and the Supreme Deity (Shangdi) for guidance. Jue cups were also used in temple ceremonies for different festivals.
Heating Wine in Jue Cups
Some jue cups have traces of soot on their legs and bottoms. This means they were sometimes placed directly into fires to warm the wine inside. But this was not very common. Only about 5% of the jue cups found by archaeologists show signs of being heated this way. So, it was more of an exception than a rule.
Later Rituals
Later, during the Zhou dynasty, there were strict rules for using the jue. A book called the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial describes these rules. For example, after taking the cup from its basket, it had to be rinsed. Then it was lifted, emptied, and put back. The person drinking would praise the wine. The host would politely refuse to praise it. Similar ceremonies were done with other wine cups, like the zhi. Other ancient texts, like the Book of Rites, also describe these kinds of ceremonies.
See also
In Spanish: Jue para niños
