Dark carved wood box with gold details

Ding

This ornamental vessel was given to MGH by Huashan Hospital in Shanghai to honor MGH’s bicentennial in 2011. The original dings were vessels used in the Bronze Age Shang dynasty for storing food for household and ritual purposes. Traditionally, dings were symbols of wealth, power and status. Today a ding is a popular Chinese gift to celebrate a momentous occasion for an institution, such as an opening or anniversary.