Twin-hare Decoration for Horizontal Drawbar (Heng), Western Zhou dynasty (11th century-771 BCE). Bronze. Length 16.4 cm.© Shanghai Museum

Heng often refers to a wooden drawbar attached horizontally to the chariot yoke for managing the horse. This bronze sleeve, with a pair of hare figures sitting on it, serves to reinforce and decorate the drawbar put through. The two hares seem ready to hop away in the opposite direction, with their heads low and front legs lifted. Cloud motifs appear on both sides of their bellies.