The date of this decisive battle was very controversial among historians. There are totally 44 different theories with dates ranging from 1130 to 1018 BC (112-year range).

This bronze vessel is the only heritage that recorded the date of this battle on “Jiazi (first) day”. It also tells the astrology observation about Jupiter at that time. This helped the historians to define the exact year of the battle. In addition, since the King rewarded the official on the eighth day, it suggests that the battle did not last long.

Some inscriptions describe key historical events and figures and have precious historical value. The bronze gui vessel of Jin Lin collected in the Palace Museum is another example.

At 16.7 cm tall and weighing 3.66 kg, this round vessel has a wide opening, large body, two handles and a foot ring. The two handles are decorated with animal heads, and the base of the handles, with bird heads. The long side-bars are carved with bird tails that extend to the base. The front and back of the body are decorated with large animal masks. There is a band of whorl designs that alternate with stylized kui-dragon designs and an embossed animal mask in the middle on both the rim and foot ring.

The eight characters cast on the inside bottom of the vessel say: “Jin Lin made this precious vessel in memory of Father Yi.” Jin Lin was the owner of the bronze vessel. He had it made in memory of his deceased father. The animal masks on the body of this bronze vessel are carved in brief shapes, but the decoration on the handles is very complicated and vividly carved in the round, which is very rare. The vessel belonged to the inner court of the Qing palace and was preserved in the Summer Palace.

1.Bronze gui of Taishi Cuo  2. Bronze gui of Tong   3. Bronze gui of Ge Bo   4. Bronze gui of Shi You

Inscriptions on some other bronze guis provide us more records on calendar, ritual and official system, such as the bronze gui of Dou Bi, bronze gui of Taishi Cuo, bronze gui of Tong, bronze gui of Ge Bo and bronze gui of Shi You.

To the Middle and Late Spring and Autumn period, though long past its heyday, bronze gui was still being carried on. Shapes and patterns of bronze gui during this period changed a lot compared to those made in early times.