New Perspectives on Cultural Relic Authentication and Heritage
Keeper of the Nine Dings – Xiao Shengkuan
October 7, 2025
I. Research Background: An “Encounter” Spanning Three Millennia of Civilization
As a cultural enthusiast deeply engaged in bronze collection and research for over fifty years, I possess several dozen precious bronze artifacts. In Hong Kong, I had the opportunity to examine a set of Bronze Series Ding known as the “Zhou King’s Nine Dings.” At first glance, their size differs markedly from the impression of “gigantic Nine Dings” from later legends, making them highly susceptible to being hastily judged as counterfeits. However, based on my long-term study of bronze forms and craftsmanship, I believe they exhibit significant characteristics of Zhou Dynasty artifacts. As the excavation and provenance information for this set of dings is unclear (reportedly unearthed from trenches near the Shaanxi-Shanxi border), for the convenience of research, I have named them the “Hong Kong Nine Dings.”
This report aims to systematically analyze the authenticity of the “Hong Kong Nine Dings” starting from the logic of cultural relic authentication and historical context research, explore their potential connection to the Zhou King’s Nine Dings, and discuss how to approach the transmission of the Nine Dings’ value in contemporary times. Historical inferences in the text are based on historical sources, while some individual viewpoints (such as the consistency in Series Ding size originating from ritual constraints) are insights from my research, requiring further verification by the archaeological community.
II. Dialectical Analysis of Cognitive Misconceptions: The Zhou King’s Nine Dings Were Not Necessarily “Gigantic”
Public skepticism about the Hong Kong Nine Dings often focuses on their size. However, both documentary and archaeological evidence indicate that the importance of the Zhou King’s Nine Dings lay in their “symbol of royal authority,” not their physical size.
1. Documentary Evidence: Zhou Dynasty’s National Strength Constrained Ding Size
The《Zuo Zhuan》records King Zhuang of Chu asking about the dings, to which Wangsun Man replied that it was “in virtue, not in the dings,” avoiding specific details about their size. The historical context here is that the early Zhou Dynasty experienced turmoil such as the Wu Geng rebellion, depleting state resources. To fund the military, it is highly likely that captured Shang dynasty bronzes were melted down. Therefore, constrained by copper supplies, the Zhou royal house, when casting the dings, was more likely to follow the ritual system of “honoring through number,” casting a set of medium-small sized Series Ding with regular form and exquisite craftsmanship, rather than pursuing massive individual dings.
2. Archaeological Evidence: Contemporary Bronze Dings Provide Size Reference
The “Luoyang Ding,” housed in the Luoyang Museum, was unearthed in 1977 from a Zhou dynasty feudal lord’s tomb. The system of enfeoffment involved granting land to relatives based on bloodline proximity. Feudal lords were a rank below the Son of Heaven. The Luoyang Ding measures 36 cm in height, 33 cm in length, and 25 cm in mouth width, highly consistent with the dimensions of the No. 2 ding from the Hong Kong Nine Dings (36 cm height, 31 cm length, 23.4 cm mouth width). This contrasts sharply with the massive size of the Shang dynasty Houmuwu Ding, reflecting the trend towards standardization and serialization in Zhou dynasty ritual vessel systems.
The consistency in size between the two dings might precisely embody the inviolable hierarchical order in Zhou ritual systems. Enfeoffed relatives were qualified to attend relevant sacrificial activities, so they would know the size of the Nine Dings, and naturally would not dare to overstep when casting their own ding. The slight differences in length and width likely also had ritual significance, requiring further in-depth research.
Historical texts contain no descriptions of the Nine Dings’ size. Isn’t it strange that the Nine Dings, representing the “symbol of royal authority,” had their sizes stipulated by ritual yet no dimensions were passed down? It can be inferred that very few people knew them. The nearly identical sizes of the Luoyang Ding unearthed in 1977 and the No. 2 Hong Kong Ding cannot be explained by coincidence.
3. Ritual Logic: Ding Size Corresponded to Its Function
Within the Zhou dynasty series ding, the size of dings varied according to different uses such as sacrifices or banquets. The size variations of the Hong Kong Nine Dings conform to the ritual norm of “crafting vessels according to use.” The notion that the “Nine Dings must be gigantic” may instead deviate from the historical reality of the early Zhou.
III. Core Evidence for Artifact Authentication: Five Irreproducible Zhou Craftsmanship Characteristics
The key to authenticating cultural relics lies in identifying the unique marks left by time. The Hong Kong Nine Dings possess the following five characteristics difficult to replicate with modern technology:
1. Mold Lines and Cast-Weld Marks: Direct Evidence of the Piece-Mold Process
Clear mold line marks and scars left by ancient metal cast-welding (or riveting) are visible at the ding handles and feet, typical features of the Zhou dynasty piece-mold casting technique. Modern counterfeits often use the lost-wax method, lacking mold lines or having very unnatural ones, and imitated weld marks also appear stiff.
2. Multi-Layered Corrosion Structure: Result of Three Millennia of Natural Oxidation
The corrosion layers on the ding body are distinct, showing from surface to interior green rust, red rust, and even gold/silver rust from precipitated lead-containing metal, accompanied by natural oxidation shrinkage and “orange peel” texture. Under high magnification microscopy, the corrosion body shows a regular crystalline state. Modern aging corrosion often uses chemical agents or attachments; their microstructure is amorphous and pasty, or they emit odors when burned, fundamentally different from ancient corrosion.
A comparative corrosion test was conducted at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on September 29th, with the entire process recorded. Photo 1 shows the state of the bronze corrosion under 500x magnification, where the clearly visible long-term formed layers are evident.
3. Natural Integration of Inscriptions and Corrosion Layers
Over a hundred characters of inscriptions on the ding body are naturally covered and enveloped by the bronze corrosion, presenting a layered sense of age where “rust wraps the characters.” Inscription on counterfeits are either overly neat or clumsily aged; the combination of rust and characters is stiff, lacking layers, and fails to imitate the state of natural accumulation. For this set of Nine Dings, only eight were cleaned; the integration of characters and rust on one ding was preserved for verification.
4. Acoustic Properties: Reverberation of Specific Alloy Composition
Zhou dynasty bronzes had a standard copper-tin-nickel-phosphorus ratio, producing a clear, long, and melodious sound when struck. Modern counterfeits often add excessive lead and tin to increase weight, resulting in a dull, dead sound when struck; the acoustic quality is distinctly different.
5. Absence of Modern Chemical Residues: Evidence of No Artificial Aging
Modern counterfeiting for aging necessarily uses strong acids and other chemical reagents, inevitably leaving residues. Testing of the Hong Kong Nine Dings found no relevant modern chemical substances, supporting that they have not undergone modern artificial treatment and retain their original unearthed state.
IV. Inscription Research: Key Basis for Dating and Classification
Inscriptions are the “identity card” of bronzes, core to establishing their age, ownership, and value.
1. Value of the Core Inscription
The bottom of each ding is cast with the eight characters “周王宫都子孙宝用” (Zhou Wang Gong Du Zi Sun Bao Yong – Treasured and used by the descendants of the Zhou King’s palace capital), clearly identifying their royal attribute. This inscription directly relates to the Zhou King’s Nine Dings, filling a gap in the transmitted historical records regarding the inscription content of the Nine Dings.
2. Inscription Content and Craftsmanship
The inscriptions were cast using the typical Zhou dynasty piece-mold method, with exquisite intaglio and relief craftsmanship, clear character openings, and natural mold joint marks, vastly different from modern engraving.
3. The Non-Replicability of the Hong Kong Nine Dings’ Inscriptions
The Zhou dynasty process of casting inscriptions using embedded molds and their natural integration with three millennia of oxidation traces is extremely difficult to replicate accurately with current technology. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Nine Dings are a unique set, with inscription details never publicly disclosed, lacking a blueprint for forgery, further ensuring their uniqueness.
V. The Mystery of Their Appearance in Hong Kong: Small Size and Historical Circumstance
It must be stated that the Hong Kong Nine Dings lack a precise excavation site. Their “small yet refined” form, and the absence of any reference to “Zhou Wang Gong Du” in historical texts, make them easily disproven, which ironically may have facilitated their transfer to Hong Kong. Perhaps due to special circumstances amidst modern historical upheavals, they avoided large-scale warfare and destruction. Hong Kong’s specific climatic conditions also aided the stable preservation of the bronze corrosion. Their re-emergence into public view after three thousand years is truly a blessing for civilization.
A mere 3000-word article cannot explain everything. Counterfeits remain false; true gold fears no fire. Seeing is believing. The Hong Kong Nine Dings are publicly displayed at the Hong Kong Nine Dings Company for experts from all fields to study and exchange insights.
The principle I adhere to is “keeping one’s word, as weighty as nine dings.”
Academically, the existence of the Hong Kong Nine Dings supports the historical legend of the old Shang dings being melted down. It also explains why the Zhou royal house adopted a “secretive” attitude towards this set of Nine Dings symbolizing royal authority. To avoid disaster, the Nine Dings were quietly buried. The mystery of the Zhou King’s Nine Dings gave rise to various legends and became an eternal enigma. If we carefully read the original dialogue between King Zhuang of Chu and Wangsun Man, can we perceive King Zhuang’s confusion and Wangsun Man’s evasion? People remember the surface of the dialogue without understanding that Wangsun Man did not want outsiders to know the fact that the Shang Nine Dings had been destroyed. The inscription on the Hong Kong Nine Dings artifact may be deciphered, which could rewrite history. This also presents an opportunity for experts from all walks of life to demonstrate their talents.
VI. Heritage and Innovation: Building a New Paradigm for Antique Authentication and Collection
After confirming the cultural value of the Hong Kong Nine Dings, how to achieve their long-term safeguarding and effective transmission becomes a pressing practical issue. As a collector in advanced age, I face the dilemma of being among the “last generation of antique keepers”: fellow collectors around me have passed away one by one, national treasures in some people’s hands are sold off as “junk” by their children, and it is difficult to safeguard them relying solely on individual effort.
Therefore, together with Mr. Zhu Weisha, an entrepreneur proficient in cryptocurrency, we have explored and conceived innovative mechanisms to achieve sustainable heritage transmission for cultural relics.
1. Industry Status Quo: Mix of Authentic and Fake, Value Imbalance
The current antique market is flooded with counterfeits, and the authentication system lacks public trust, leading to a severe undervaluation of genuine items. The traditional auction model lacks transparency and is easily manipulated. Auctioning the Nine Dings in such a market violates the principle of integrity represented by the Nine Dings.
2. Solution: Parallel Tracks of DeFi Model and Authentication System
1) Transaction Mechanism Innovation: Adopt a DeFi (Decentralized Finance) model to make the transaction process transparent. Design the ten-round sale of Nine Dings tokens using an automated algorithm, with a total 10x increase over ten rounds, continuously trading to gradually raise the market price floor, rather than artificial market manipulation; simultaneously ensure trading liquidity. Auctions based on this foundation become reasonable, thoroughly revolutionizing the current antique auction format.
2) Authentication System Construction: Use the antiques in my possession (valued over ten billion HKD) as collateral to establish a “world-class authenticity guarantee insurance company” and an authoritative testing center. Beyond traditional authentication methods (mold lines, corrosion layers, inscriptions, etc.), introduce scientific equipment like QRS Quantum Resonance Spectrometers and AI databases to conduct multi-dimensional authentication of antiques, solving the core industry pain point of “difficulty in guaranteeing authenticity.”
There are reasons why quantum resonance spectrometers are not officially recognized, but the comparison between test results and actual artifacts shows a conformity rate exceeding 95%, demonstrating significant vitality. From a dating perspective, the combination of detection instruments and human judgment is already a consensus within the non-official sector of the industry.
3. The Financial Logic of National Treasure Heritage
Addressing the core question of “national treasures are priceless, how can token issuance achieve generational safeguarding?”, the following plan is proposed:
The world antique community generally acknowledges that the annual value appreciation rate of scarce antiques typically exceeds 10%. After the issuance of the Nine Dings tokens is complete, interest can be distributed to token holders, protecting the rights of early risk investors and the interests of later-stage investors seeking stable returns.
Combined with diverse revenue streams such as ticket sales, exhibition income, and Nine Dings image licensing revenue (this provides real value support lacking in virtual currencies like Bitcoin), a sustainable value closed loop is formed.
If a national museum proposes an acquisition, the Nine Dings can be transferred, ensuring the national treasure ultimately returns to the state, all participants in the safeguarding benefit collectively, and I fulfill my responsibility as keeper.
VII. Conclusion: Safeguarding Not Only the Dings, But Cultural Roots and the Spirit of Trust
The Hong Kong Nine Dings may differ from the public’s legendary imagination of the “Zhou King’s Nine Dings,” but every detail of their craftsmanship, corrosion traces, and inscription information conforms to the historical truth of Zhou dynasty bronzes—they are an imprint of Zhou civilization reappearing in the world after three millennia.
The core of “one’s word being as weighty as nine dings” is “trust.” The Zhou King’s Nine Dings, as important state ritual vessels, symbolized the dynasty’s credit and foundation. Today, I present the logic of authentication with a rigorous scientific attitude and explore its heritage with an open, technological mindset. The rediscovery and transmission of the Hong Kong Nine Dings is not merely the safeguarding of an artifact; it is precisely the best reverence and continuation of this cultural heritage. May the world transcend ingrained imagination and prejudice to jointly safeguard this civilizational imprint spanning three millennia, allowing the cultural roots and spirit of trust it carries to be passed down through the generations, enduring and renewing over time.
Postscript:
After the completion of this article, on October 17, 2025, I received Professor Wang Dexun’s translation of the characters on the inner bottom of the Nine Dings. Among them the writing style of the five characters “王 (Wang), 周 (Zhou), 宫 (Gong), 宝 (Bao), 用 (Yong)” is the same as that of the same characters on the outer bottom of the dings, meaning the characters on the outer bottom and the inner bottom date from the same period. This corroborates the conclusion that the Hong Kong Nine Dings are the Zhou King’s Nine Dings.
Whether they are later forgeries, the bronze corrosion can tell. I have left one ding uncleaned to preserve the corrosion for more authoritative verification in the future.
I firmly believe that the Hong Kong Nine Dings is the legendary national treasure Nine Dings .Only the burial of the Nine Ding is correct among many historical legends.
