Guoji Zibai pan

Liu Mingchuan (1836–1896), the third owner of the Guoji Zibai pan who protected it between 1864 and 1896

Weng Tonghe (1830–1904), scholar and Minister of Revenue, who coveted the Guoji Zibai pan

According to Prefecture Records of Luzhou (《庐州府志》), the Guoji Zibai pan was unearthed at Guochuansi of Baoji, Shaanxi, in the Daoguang period (1821–1851) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Xu Xiejun (徐燮钧), the then magistrate of Mei County, purchased the plate for 5,000-gram (180 oz) silver from a local peasant. And he brought the plate to his house "Tianyou Hall" (天佑堂). In April 1860, it fell into the hands of Chen Kunshu and became the treasure of the Mansion of Prince Protector.[7]

In May 1864, namely the 3rd year of Tongzhi period of Qing dynasty, Liu Mingchuan (1836–1896), general of the Huai Army, led the troops of Qing Empire to fight with the Taiping Army, and finally liberated Changzhou. When Liu moved into the mansion, his soldiers didn't know the plate and used it as a manger. One night when reading a book under the oil lamp, Liu heard clear metal clanks from out of the window. All was quiet at dead of night, so the clanks sounded clear and loud. Liu came to the stable following the sounds, and saw that a horse was eating grass with the bronze rings on the headstall hitting the manger from time to time to make the clanks. Liu was so curious that he bent to look carefully with the lantern, and found the manger wide and deep with fuzzy decorative patterns on its four sides. Liu tried to push the manger but failed. It was very unusual and he decided to check it out after the dawn. The next day he ordered his attendants to carry out the manger and wash it. The bronze ware was very exquisite and Liu was very fond of it. He immediately sent his trusted followers to transport the manger to his hometown, Hefei in Anhui. Liu specially invited Huang Congmo (黄从默; 黃從默) who was familiar with ancient Chinese characters to help him research the bronze ware. Huang told him that most of bronze plates discovered in the past were round, and rectangular bronze ware was very rare, and such a large and rectangular plate was even more scarce and, or even might be the only one of its kind. And the inscription clearly showed that the bronze plate was cast by Guoji Zibai of the Western Guo State. After Liu understood the story of the manger he decided to protect it. Liu specially built an exquisite pavilion in his house, which he named "Plate Pavilion" (盘亭; 盤亭) to preserve the plate. Huang made a piece of rubbing from its inscription and copied a lot of copies. Huang sold it on the market. Weng Tonghe (1830–1904), a collector and teacher of Guangxu Emperor, wanted to buy the plate but Liu refused. Weng told the Empress Dowager Cixi on Liu Mingchuan and complained about that. But Liu's superior Li Hongzhang explained that. Empress Dowager Cixi decreed to bestow the plate on Liu Mingchuan. In 1885 he was appointed the first provincial governor of Taiwan by the Qing government, a position he held for almost ten years until his retirement. From then on he lived a retiring life and didn't care about national affairs any more. The plate became his spiritual ballast in his declining years. In 1894, the Qing army were routed in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Qing government was forced to sign the "Treaty of Shimonoseki". When hearing the news, Liu was furious that he became illness suddenly and died with indignation. Before he died, he told his children again and again that the plate was a national treasure and they should protect it even risking their lives.[7][8][7][9]

In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution was broke out, China was torn by warlords. Some warlords began to covet all kinds of national treasures that they knew heard of. The Guoji Zibai pan in the Liu Family was no exception. In May 1933, the then governor of Anhui Liu Zhenhua came to Liu's home in the name of visiting the descendant of Liu Mingchuan. When meeting Liu Suzeng (刘肃曾; 劉肅曾), the fourth generation-son of Liu Mingchuan. Liu Zhenhua first flattered him with a beaming face, then he changed the topic, saying that he want to see the plate. Liu Suzeng said calmly that his ancestors did actually collect a plate, but they had never seen it. Liu Zhenhua suddenly turned hostile and commanded his soldiers to search the house. They searched everywhere but found nothing there. Liu Zhenhua sent spies to watch every movement of the Liu Family in the hope of finding where the plate was. The Liu Family spent the next four year in fear and trembling.[7]

In 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident was broke out, the Japanese army soon colonised the north China. After occupying Hefei, the Japanese army set a stronghold less than 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) away from the Liu Family. Soon after, they sent a message to the Liu Family that they would like to change a golden plate of the same size for the Guoji Zibai pan. Liu Suzeng answered immediately that they didn't have any treasure and if they had, they didn't want to be unworthy descendant, or the bad apples of the country to sell it to foreigners. Liu Suzeng thought it over and over and finally hit upon a good idea, they dug a big hole in their yard, and buried the plate in the hole and planted a little locust tree on it. In order to avoid the danger, the Liu Family moved to other places with same personal belongings at night to seek asylum. When the Japanese heard this, they made a wide and sweeping search of the Liu's house but found nothing. Finally, they set a fire on more than 30 buildings and than left.[7]

After the surrender of Japan, the Liu Family returned to home. Li Pinxian (1892–1987), a KMT general and the then governor of Anhui, ordered Liu Suzeng to hand over the plate, but Liu refused. A few days later, Li Pinxian deliberately said that Liu had stolen the box full of gold bars, and forced Liu to write the iou. The Liu Family had to flee their home to seek asylum again. Li Pinxian came to Liu's house with his troops, they looked around the house and dug the yard to a depth of three feet but found nothing.[9]

In October 1949, after the establishment of the Communist State, the Ministry of Culture asked official from all over the country to rescue the treasures of cultural relics scattered from the folk. Wu Guichang (吴桂长; 吳桂長), chief of the CPC Feixi County Committee, heard the news that the Guoji Zibai pan is preserved in the Liu Family. Wu went to Liu's house many times and asked Liu Suzeng to donate the cultural relic to the country. Guo Chongyi (郭崇毅), a local member of the Chinese Democratic League, came to Liu's home with a document of the Central Government. After reading the document and talking with Guo Chongyi, Liu Suzeng decided to donate the treasure to the new country with a bronze drum of the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) together. On February 28, 1950, the Liu Family officially donated the plate to the Ministry of Culture. The government awarded Liu a certificate of praise and honor. Till then, the Guoji Zibai pan had accompanied the Liu Family for 86 years and been passed down by four generations. The Ministry of Culture gave the treasure to the National Museum of Chinese History. Later, the National Museum of Chinese History gave the relic to the National Museum of China. The Guoji Zibai pan has always been kept there since that time.[7][9][10]