A high-status tomb discovered in the Yinxu ruins near Anyang has yielded a pair of magnificent bronze zun (wine vessels) shaped like owls, dating to the late Shang Dynasty. These vessels were found in a central ritual pit surrounded by the remains of large-scale animal sacrifices, pointing to their use in the Di and Xia festivals, where descendants presented offerings to appease and honor royal ancestors.
The owl, often associated with the night and the transition between life and death in early Chinese mythology, likely played a symbolic role in bridging the human and spirit worlds during these banquets. The exceptional craftsmanship of these bronzes, featuring intricate taotie motifs, underscores the wealth and ritual complexity of the Shang elite’s ancestral veneration traditions.