Which dynasty did Li Chan and the inscription belong to?

Li Chan and inscriptions are the earliest bronzes with inscriptions in the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty.

"Li Chan" is the earliest bronze ware with inscriptions in the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty. 1March, 976, excavated in Lingkou Village, Lingkou Town, Lintong County, Shaanxi Province. As soon as Li Chan was born, he received great attention from academic circles. As it is the only physical witness involved in the history of the conquering Zhou Dynasty so far, it has special cultural relics and historical data value, which is of inestimable value to the definition of the era of the Ke and Shang Dynasties. Its value is far from comparable to other bronzes, and it is not an exaggeration to be called "the heavy weapon of the country".

The battle of Makino, or a major historical event that King Wu was fair, was undoubtedly the dividing line between Shang and Zhou Dynasties. In terms of time, the presumption of this dividing line has certain significance. For the previous Xia and Shang Dynasties, it was the end of its total accumulated years. For the later Western Zhou Dynasty, it directly affected the calculation of the number of years of kings. Therefore, the establishment of the King of Wu is considered to be the most important and key link in the whole Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties dating project.

Collection of Chinese History Museum:

Round, small mouth, double animal earlobe, square seat under the circle, solemn and steady shape; Taking Yun Leiwen as the ground, the belly and square seats are decorated with animal faces, and the circle is decorated with real letters. The huge eyes of the beast's face stared at it, which was terrible. In the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, divination was a necessary means to predict good or bad luck. Li Chan's insole was engraved with the inscription of divination and seeking God before Zhou Wuwang's crusade against Shang and Zhou Dynasties, with four lines and 32 words. The inscription to the effect that the king of Wu attacked Zhou, and at dawn, Jiazi asked whether the loggers could win, which was a good sign.

The significance of this inscription lies in that it confirms the records of the King of Wu in Jiazi Day in ancient documents such as Shangshu Pastoral Oath, Shiji Yinbenji, which happened to be a year when the stars were in the sky. Li became an official and got a gift to participate in the battle of Shang Dynasty, which was made on the seventh day after Shang Dynasty. Therefore, Li Chan is the earliest existing bronze ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and it is also a standard instrument reflecting the style of the King of Wu period, which provides an important basis for the dating of bronzes.