The Houmuwu ding is the largest known ancient bronze vessel from China, cast during the late Shang dynasty.
The massive ritual food vessel was discovered in 1939 near Anyang, Henan, the location of the late Shang capital. It weighs about 832.84 kilograms and is roughly 133 centimeters tall, making it an extraordinary achievement of early Chinese bronze casting.
The vessel was originally known as the Simuwu ding, based on an interpretation of its inscription. It was later renamed Houmuwu ding after scholars revised the reading. The inscription connects the vessel with the ancestral temple and elite ritual practice.
A ding was a tripod vessel used in ceremonies and was also a symbol of authority. The Houmuwu ding should not be confused with the Mao Gong ding, a Western Zhou vessel famous for its exceptionally long inscription.