Inscriptions, also known as bronze inscriptions and bell and tripod inscriptions, refer to the characters engraved on bronze objects. Like oracle bone inscriptions, it is an ancient Chinese writing and a treasure of Chinese civilization. It is not only the most important criterion for judging the age of bronze ware, but also the standard for the shape and decoration of the objects. Bronze inscriptions were already a very mature art of calligraphy during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and have been valued by people who have studied calligraphy throughout the ages. From a historical point of view, the inscriptions on bronze vessels are very precious because they have extremely rich and reliable historical value. Ancient people often engraved important events of the country or clan on them, and expressed them in various forms.
Bronze inscriptions are one of the early forms of books in China. Bronze ware was probably used in the Shang, Zhou and Western Han dynasties. It was a special product for the ruling class aristocrats at that time. There are many types of bronze wares, which can be roughly divided into ritual vessels, musical instruments, weapons, food vessels and other daily utensils. Ritual vessels among bronzes are also called "auspicious gold", such as various tripods of different sizes, which are regarded by nobles as family heirlooms and symbols of national power, so they are also called "heavy vessels". During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, whenever a country was eliminated, its ancestral temples must be destroyed and its important weapons moved away to indicate the transfer of power. At that time, if the nobles had important documents that needed to be preserved for a long time or important events that needed to be permanently commemorated, they would cast a bronze vessel, record the document or event in writing, and cast it on the bronze vessel.