青銅筆記 vol.34 舊金山亞洲藝術博物館：商晚期亞銘青銅斝，布倫戴奇收藏 - Asian Art Museum, Avery Brundage Collection, Bronze Vessel of Jia, Inscribed ‘Yayi’, Late Shang Dynasty

SACA
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Ancient bronze tripod vessel with ornate carvings, featuring a spout and two tall finials. The surface shows a green patina.

此器為商代晚期青銅斝，用於商代祭祀儀式中的盛酒與溫酒。因體型高大厚重，此件應以陳設祭祀暫時為主，而非日常實用。器表主要裝飾為饕餮紋與一足龍（夔龍），主紋以浮雕形式呈現，背景滿布雷紋（螺旋狀雷雲紋）。把手鑄成一有角神獸口銜鳥的造型，生動有力。

據傳此器出土於商代晚期都城安陽附近，其尺寸與紋飾風格與殷墟婦好墓出土的同類青銅器極為相似。

器底鑄有銘文，為一人形符號，上部為「匕」、下部為「矢」，即所謂「上匕下矢」，現釋讀為「亞矣」（Yayi）。此族徽在商代晚期青銅器上多次出現，應為當時某重要氏族的標誌。值得注意的是，日本根津美術館（Nezu Museum）亦藏有一件同銘「亞矣」的青銅斝，高約73.5 cm。兩件器物尺寸相近、紋飾風格一致，應為同一組器物中的一對，是目前已知世界上最大的商代青銅斝。傳為候家莊出土，是商王朝的核心區。

This is a large ritual wine vessel (jia) from the late Shang dynasty, used for holding and warming wine during ancestral rituals. Due to its significant height and weight, it was likely intended primarily for display rather than practical daily use.

The surface is decorated with prominent taotie masks and one-legged dragons (kuilong) in relief, set against a dense background of spiral thunder patterns (leiwen). The handle is cast as a horned mythical beast holding a bird in its mouth, showcasing dynamic craftsmanship.

Reportedly unearthed near the late Shang capital of Anyang, this vessel is similar in size and decorative style to examples excavated from the tomb of Fu Hao.

The inscription cast on the bottom depicts a pictograph of a man with a cross-shaped symbol (interpreted as “dagger above and arrow below”), now read as “Yayi” (亞矣). This clan emblem appears on many late Shang bronzes and likely represents an important lineage or clan sign.

Notably, the Nezu Museum in Tokyo holds a nearly identical “Yayi” jia measuring approximately 73.5 cm in height. The two vessels are extremely close in size and decoration, suggesting they originally formed a pair. Together, they are considered the largest jia vessels known from the Shang dynasty.