Rich in culture and known for the creation of unique decorative objects, the Northern National bronze culture, which originated in areas along the Great Wall in north China and covering a vast area, was one of the jewels of China's northern prairie. The culture developed over a long period from the Shang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty, during which time it merged with the prominent societies of the Central Plains and Eurasia. Bronze objects created in the North at that time can be divided into various categories such as weapons, tools of production, ornaments, life appliances, ritual vessels and travelling devices. According to inscriptions on oracle bones, there once existed numerous Fang nations, an early form of nation in China, in the Shang Dynasty in the midwest area of the Lüliang Mountains of Shanxi Province and along the Yellow River. Large numbers of bronze objects of the later period of the Shang Dynasty were found in Lingshi, Shilou, Liuling and Baode. Many varieties of larger objects were similar to the typical Southern bronze wares of the later Shang Dynasty. However, smaller implements such as swords, Xue, Bi and knives of various styles, displayed characteristics unique to the northern grassland.

　　Those made in the Shang Dynasty were mostly unearthed in Yuanqu and Pinglu of Southern Shanxi, in Jiexiu and Lingshi of Central Shanxi and in Shilou and Baode of the west along the Lǚliang Mountain and the Yellow River. They are characterized by a mixed style typical of the central plains culture as well as the minority cultures. The bronze wares made in the Western Zhou Dynasty are now exclusively found in Southern Shanxi. Early excavations were once made in Wenxi and Hongtong and later followed by a remarkable array of bronze wares of the Jin State in the period of the Western Zhou Dynasty, which were unearthed in the Marquis Graveyard of the Jin State in Tianma-Qucun. Exquisite in design and gorgeous in style, these bronzes are of great value for academic studies. Besides, there are also bronzes of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which are mostly excavated in Taiyuan, Hunyuan, Xinjiang and Changzhi. They are in a class by themselves and many stand out as best examples of which the bronze-casting pottery moulds of the Jin State unearthed in Houma are second to none in terms of artistic and technical aspects. When it comes to the bronzes made in the Han Dynasty, the bulk has been found in Taiyuan and Northern Shanxi. With Hufu’s wine vessel found in Youyu and the farce actor found in Shuozhou as best representatives, the bronzes of that period have a smack of northern grassland cultures tinged with a Han-style impact.

　　Those made in the Shang Dynasty were mostly unearthed in Yuanqu and Pinglu of Southern Shanxi, in Jiexiu and Lingshi of Central Shanxi and in Shilou and Baode of the west along the Lǚliang Mountain and the Yellow River. They are characterized by a mixed style typical of the central plains culture as well as the minority cultures. The bronze wares made in the Western Zhou Dynasty are now exclusively found in Southern Shanxi. Early excavations were once made in Wenxi and Hongtong and later followed by a remarkable array of bronze wares of the Jin State in the period of the Western Zhou Dynasty, which were unearthed in the Marquis Graveyard of the Jin State in Tianma-Qucun. Exquisite in design and gorgeous in style, these bronzes are of great value for academic studies. Besides, there are also bronzes of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which are mostly excavated in Taiyuan, Hunyuan, Xinjiang and Changzhi. They are in a class by themselves and many stand out as best examples of which the bronze-casting pottery moulds of the Jin State unearthed in Houma are second to none in terms of artistic and technical aspects. When it comes to the bronzes made in the Han Dynasty, the bulk has been found in Taiyuan and Northern Shanxi. With Hufu’s wine vessel found in Youyu and the farce actor found in Shuozhou as best representatives, the bronzes of that period have a smack of northern grassland cultures tinged with a Han-style impact.