序

西周初，太伯、仲雍奔吴，至十九世寿梦立，习用兵乘车，吴始益大，称王。再经诸樊、余祭、余眜、僚几代吴王苦心经营，吴国渐成春秋重要方国。及于阖闾，吴重筑都城，是为苏州城之源。

吴楚之争自寿梦始，互有征伐，吴越结怨也因吴楚相争而起之。直至公元前473年，勾践卧薪尝胆后卷土重来，复围姑苏山，夫差自刭，吴国遂亡。越灭吴后，虽会齐、宋、晋、鲁等诸侯于徐州，然不能正江、淮北。楚渐东侵，广地至泗上。公元前333年，楚威王兴兵东伐，杀王无彊，越国覆亡。又历百年，楚益衰，公元前223年，秦将王翦、蒙武破楚，虏楚王负刍。吴、越、楚的大邦之梦，终归于秦。

千年已逝，沧海桑田。大邦之梦虽远去，故国旧物可重归。作为苏州地区文物收藏、保护、研究、展示、教育的中心，苏州博物馆多年来一直致力于吴国青铜器的收藏。2013年，经多方支持，苏州博物馆成功征集吴越青铜兵器58件，其中包括一柄现存精美程度最高、品相最完好的吴王夫差剑；2015年，吴王余眜剑入藏苏州博物馆，上铸铭文两行75字，为目前所见剑类兵器中铭文最多的一柄。

本次展览，吴、越、楚百余件青铜器会盟于苏州博物馆，集中展示春秋战国那段峥嵘岁月，展览分“兵戎相见”“礼尚往来”“乐享天籁”“工精技良”四部分，希望能为观众重构吴、越、楚的“大邦之梦”，也期待通过展览能进一步推动吴、越、楚文化的交流和学术研究。

在此，谨向鼎力支持本次展览的22家文博机构致以最诚挚的感谢！

是为序。

苏州博物馆馆长  陈瑞近

进入展厅

Preface

In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, two princes, Taibo and Zhongyong, built the Wu Kingdom. The nineteenth king of Wu Kingdom, Shoumeng, advocated militarism and made Wu Kingdom strong in the region. Later, after the painstaking efforts of several kings, it gradually became an important power in the Spring and Autumn Period. The Kingdom came to its summit under the reign of King Helu, who appointed to rebuild the city. This was considered to be the origin of Suzhou.

The battle between Wu and Chu Kingdom started from King Shoumeng, where they fought against and hate each other. In 473 B.C., King Goujian of Yue Kingdom, who had once been defeated by King Fuchai of Wu Kingdom, resumed his territory. King Fuchai committed suicide and Wu Kingdom broke down. After that, Yue Kingdom fought against Qi, Song, Jin and Lu Kingdom, but failed to defeat them. Chu Kingdom gradually expanded its territory towards the east, and finally to the north of Sihe River, located in Shandong Province. In 333 B.C., King of Chu launched a war in the east, in which Yue Kingdom perished. After about a hundred years, Chu Kingdom became weaker. In 223 B.C., General Wang Jian and General Meng Wu of Qin Kingdom defeated Chu Kingdom and seized the King Fuchu. Finally, the dreams of Wu, Yue and Chu Kingdom were disillusioned and Qin Kingdom established the first empire in Chinese history.

One thousand years have passed, and great changes have taken place. Though the kingdoms have vanished, they have left many relics. As the center of relic collection, protection, research, demonstration and education, Suzhou Museum has been committed to the collection of Wu bronzes for years. In 2013, Suzhou Museum successfully collected 58 bronze weapons of Wu and Yue Kingdom. Among them is the Sword of King Fuchai, which is considered as the most exquisite. In 2015, the Sword of King Yumo became the collection of Suzhou Museum. An inscription of 75 characters are cast on the sword, one with the most characters among all the unearthed swords up to now.

Over one hundred bronzes of Wu, Yue and Chu Kingdom gathered in Suzhou Museum this time, which collectively manifested the glory of Spring and Autumn Period. The exhibition is divided into four parts: “Bronze Weapons”, “Bronze Ritual Vessels”, “Bronze Musical Instruments” and “Bronze Crafts”. We hope that this exhibition will represent the dreams of Wu, Yue and Chu Kingdom, and will also promote the cultural exchanges and academic research of Wu, Yue and Chu Kingdom.

Here we would like to extend the most sincere gratitude to 22 cultural institutions who have provided support for this exhibition.

This is the preface.

Chen Ruijin

Director of Suzhou Museum

Exhit