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Western Zhou Dynasty horizontal drawbar decorated with twin hares
Updated: Feb 7, 2023
govt.chinadaily.com.cn
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A wooden drawbar horizontally attached to the chariot yoke is called heng, and is used to steer a horse. This bronze tube, with twin hares standing on it, both reinforces and decorates the drawbar. Linked together, the two hares appear to run in opposite directions. Cloud patterns embellish both sides of their bellies.
The bronze chariot decoration, featuring sophisticated and vivid casting, is a treasure dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) and is part of the permanent collection of the Shanghai Museum.
