On November 18, the "Classic of Plates - Special Exhibition of Bronze Plates in Shang and Zhou Dynasties" hosted by Shanxi Museum and Shanxi Provincial Archaeological Museum was held. The exhibition selected 20 exquisite bronze plates and related cultural relics from the Shang Dynasty to the Warring States Period. Focusing on the Jingongpan collected by Shanxi Museum, it presents the practical functions and symbolic significance of bronze plates in the ritual society, such as washing, sacrificing, assisting in burial, and dowry, and further explains the important role of bronze civilization in the evolution of Chinese civilization. The exhibition is divided into three parts: "the making of plates", "the art of plates" and "the use of plates". The first part, "the system of plates", traces back to the origin, shape, function and combination of bronze plates. The second part, "The Art of Panning", focuses on three representative bronze plates of the Jin State - the plate of Jin Shuyou's father, the plate of Zizhong's ginger and the plate of Jin Gong. The Gongpan of the Jin Dynasty was made by Duke Wen of the Jin Dynasty in the Spring and Autumn Period. There are dozens of relief and round animals in the plate, which are exquisite, complex and well arranged. The Zizhong Jiangpan collected in Shanghai Museum is similar to the casting age of the Jin Gongpan, with highly consistent modeling style. It is also the dating standard of the bronze plate in the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period. The two famous plates of the Spring and Autumn Period were both stolen and lost overseas, and finally reunited in their hometown more than 2600 years later and were exhibited on the same stage. The third part, "The Use of Pans", tells that in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, when the etiquette system was prevailing, Pans developed from a practical appliance for noble banquet or sacrifice to a dowry device for noble women to symbolize their status when they got married. The exhibition will last until February 26, 2023, during which Shanxi Museum will also launch virtual exhibitions, expert lectures, sitcoms, hands-on experience and other online and offline activities. (Wei Yanxing) (Liaoxin News Agency)