Inscribed Plastron I 507+Ping 284
The plastron records a large hunting expedition of King Wu Ting wherein one tiger, 40 deer, 164 foxes, and 159 deer fawns were caught, which is rarely seen in terms of species and number, and the biggest acquisition of foxes in the Shang period. Fierce tigers are difficult to capture, and only one or two would be caught in a single hunting as documented on oracle bones.
: The character “to hunt” comprises “dog” and the script referring to a piece of equipment made of stones bound to a tree branch.
: A toponym comprising “turtle” and the script referring to a stick in hand.
: A net means “captured.”
: A bird in hand means “captured.”
: The profile of a tiger in a standing position featuring a wide-open mouth with tooth, stripes on its body, and the long tail.
: A deer featuring a pair of bifurcated antlers.
: The character “fox” comprises “dog” and a phonetic radical.
: A young deer without antlers means “deer fawn.”
: The character “to hunt” comprises “dog” and the script referring to a piece of equipment made of stones bound to a tree branch.
: A toponym comprising “turtle” and the script referring to a stick in hand.
: A net means “captured.”
: A bird in hand means “captured.”
: The profile of a tiger in a standing position featuring a wide-open mouth with tooth, stripes on its body, and the long tail.
: A deer featuring a pair of bifurcated antlers.
: The character “fox” comprises “dog” and a phonetic radical.
: A young deer without antlers means “deer fawn.”
- Item No.
- R041288
- Period
- Late Shang Period
- Dimensions
- 19.4(L)×18.2(W) cm
- Excavated/Findspot
- Pit YH127, Hsiao-t'un, Anyang County, Honan Province
- Materials
- Turtle Plastron