Lai-ware of the Western Zhou and Related Issues

27 bronze objects of the Western Zhou were unearthed in early 2003 in Mei County, Shaanxi. Each object was cast with epigraphic characters, recording Chan Lai and familial history. Both the characters and the topics covered were rare in years. The Lai-tripods of the years of 42 and 43 are complete with chronological records by the year and by the month, lunar phases , and the chronological records of the Ten Celestial Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches. Thus the Lai-ware constitutes one of the most significant discoveries since the Xia-Shang-Zhou Division Project was initiated, and can serve as a test for or a challenge to the initial findings of the Project. The complete lineage of Western Zhou kings as recorded on the Lai-plates has never been seen in other Western Zhou relics. Lai-ware will play an important role in Xia-Shang-Zhou studies.