The middle bank of the Yangzi River is one of the most significant cradles of Chinese civilization and an important locus for the study of Chinese bronze culture. Several important excavations in the past few decades have illuminated some of the little known aspects of this culture through exquisite bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16th – 3rd century BCE). This exhibition, culled from the collection of the Hunan Provincial Museum, and catalogue introduce audiences to new discoveries about this seminal time in Chinese history. The fascinating story of this regional culture is revealed in three ways: through the development and characteristics of Hunan bronzes, their function and patronage, and their cultural connection to central China.