This article takes the four handed down Chu Gong Jia bells and the Chu Gong Jia bell unearthed in Zhouyuan as the research objects, and combines the existing research results to conduct a comparative study of the two from the perspective of inscription glyphs, word relationships, style, and decorative patterns. It is pointed out that the inscriptions, style, and word relationships of Chu Gong Jia bells in the late western Zhou dynasty all show the regional characteristics of the Chu characters. The inscriptions, style, and relationship between words of the Chu Gong Jia bell unearthed in the Zhou dynasty also reflect the regional characteristics of the western Zhou dynasty. This article also conducts a comparative study of the bird patterns on the bells of the western Zhou dynasty, and points out that the bird patterns on the Chu Gong Jia bell unearthed in Zhouyuan are not common in the southern region during the western Zhou dynasty, but are more closely related to the Baoji Phoenix bird pattern with a fleshy crown common in the Baoji region during the western Zhou dynasty. Its stiff demeanor and forked upturned tail may be due to improper imitation of southern bird patterns. The regional characteristics and bird pattern on the right drum of the Chu Gong Jia bell inscription unearthed in Zhouyuan indicate that its origin or locality is in Zhouyuan. The research in this article has a promoting effect on the understanding of the regional characteristics of bronze inscriptions in the western Zhou dynasty, and is beneficial for us to further understand the early Chu characters and Chu culture. The conclusions of this study can provide some reference for the formation and development of the character system in the Zhou dynasty and the study of the casting and circulation patterns of bronze.

• 楊菁(華東師範大學) | Jing YANG