Shanxi province's bronze culture has a long history of exquisite workmanship and a unique style that spread across the whole province, but, during the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) was mainly located in Yuanqu and Pinglu, in southern Shanxi; Xinzhou, Jiexiu, and Lingshi in the middle parts; and Shilou and Paode in the west. Originally it had a plain style and tribal characteristics.

Its bronze ware during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) has only been found in the south of the province, especially at Jinhou, in the Tianma-Qucun historical site, with valuable exquisite workmanship. The bronze ware of Jin country, from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256BC) was mainly found near Taiyuan, Hunyuan, Xinjiang, and Changzhi. Some cast copper pottery molds have been discovered in Houma with artistic and scientific value. The bronze ware of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220) was mainly discovered in Taiyuan and Yanbei and represents the grassland culture.

1. Round cauldron with animal-face design (Shang Dynasty)

This piece, unearthed in the village of Qianzhuang, Shanxi Province, in 1999, is 73 cm tall and 47.5 cm in diameter at the mouth, with a simple pattern, and the oldest, large Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) bronze ever found in Shanxi. Judging from the traces of soot on its base and the excavation site, the cauldron may have been used as a ritual vessel for worshipping the river god.

2. Owl-shaped You (Shang Dynasty)

This piece, unearthed in the village of Erlangpo, Shanxi, in 1956, is 19.7 cm tall, 12 cm in diameter at the widest part of the mouth, 8.6 cm in minor diameter at the narrowest part, and 13.4 cm wide. It resembles two owls standing back-to-back, with heads with round eyes and hooked beaks that form the lid. It is both a practical utensil and an exquisite art object from the late Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC).

3. Vessel with bird-shaped lid and human-shaped feet (Western Zhou)

This piece is 34.6 cm tall and was unearthed at Tomb No.31, of the wife of Marquis Xian of the Jin.State, which is in today's Beizhao village, Shanxi province, in 1992. The vessel has a unique shape with two peculiar human feet, a bird lid, a dragon spout, an animal handle, and a little bear tightly gripping the tail of an engraved bird. The craftsmanship is a merger of various traditions and innovation in an organic whole, showing extraordinary sculptural techniques.

4. Bird-shaped 'zun' wine vessel (Western Zhou)

This piece, which is 39 cm tall by 30.5 cm by 17.5 cm, was unearthed from Tomb No.114 of the Jin State site, in Beizhao village, Shanxi province, in 1992. It has a phoenix-like shape, which, from the back, appears to be standing, with its tail curving downward like an elephant trunk, which, with the two legs, forms a three-point support. It is lifelike, a unique design, and exquisitely decorated, a rare treasure. Its lid and base have the inscription, "Wine vessel made by the Marquis of Jin for ancestral worship", clearly indicating it was a utensil for sacrificial ceremonies in the marquis’s ancestral temple.

5. 'Hu' wine vessel of Marquis Pi of Jin State (Western Zhou)

These pieces, 68.8 cm tall and 35.2 cm in diameter at the widest part, were from Tomb No.8 at the Jin State site, in Beizhao village, Shanxi province, in 1992. They are two flagons, basically identical in shape, pattern, and inscriptions, with a unique shape and beautiful patterns. The inside of the lid is engraved with 26 characters in four lines, reading, "Made early in the ninth lunar month by Marquis Pi of the Jin State".

6. Cylindrical vessel with standing-bird lid-handle and human feet (Western Zhou)

The vessel is 23.1 cm tall and 9.1 cm in diameter and was unearthed from Tomb No.63 at the Jin State site, in Beizhao village, in 1993. The tomb is for the second wife of Marquis Mu of theJin. The vessel has a peculiar shape resembling none of the previously discovered bronzes. The the top of the lid has a fluttering bird for the handle, while the brim and the mouth form a pair of ears. The vessel has a square base, with each side containing a leg that resembles a naked man with hair tied up in a bun and squatting as if to exert himself in lifting. There are two little bells hanging inside the base, with no clear function.

7. Funerary carriage with animals and footless janitor (Western Zhou)

This piece is 9.1 cm tall by 13.7 cm by 11.3 cm and was unearthed in Shangguo village, Shanxi province. It is a six-wheel carriage, at the front of which stands a footless janitor, near the left door. The top has a lid and the sides of the carriage have engravings of monkeys, birds, and tigers to symbolize a rural place where birds and animals are bred for hunting. This is an exquisite piece with 15 scrollable parts, something that is indeed rare.

8. Plate held by a woman on the back of an ox (Warring States Period)

This piece is 14.5 cm tall, 18 cm long, and 14 cm in diameter and weights 1.38 km. It was unearthed in the city of Changzhi, Shanxi province, in 1965. It is an animal holding its head high with ears erect and a woman on its back, with her hair hanging down and her hands holding a post, on the top of which is a movable plate with snake patterns. The utensil is remarkable for its design, elegant style, patterns, and consumate craftsmanship, which reflects the technology of bronze manufacturing during the Warring States.

9. Hufu's 'zun’ wine-warming vessel (Han Dynasty)

This vessel is 24.5 cm tall and 23.4 cm in diameter at the mouth and was unearthed in Dachuan village, Shanxi province, in 1962, with a similar item, both of them gilded. The lid has a ring at the center and three phoenix buttons on the periphery. The base has three bear-shaped feet, while the body has two layers of relief patterns with various animals, including a tiger, goat, camel, cow, monkey, and dragon. It is a merger of the uninhibited northern grassland culture and graceful central plains culture, and a model work of art and technique of Han bronzes.