What is zheng (zhēng)? What are the characteristics? What is the main function?
There is a record of "zheng (zhēng)" in the masterpiece "Shuowen Jiezi" by Xu Shen, a scribe and philologist in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The text says:
"Zheng (zhēng), nao (náo) also, like a bell, the handle goes up and down."
"Náo (náo), Xiaozheng (zhēng)."
According to this argument, zheng (zhēng) is similar to nao, the difference is that zheng (zhēng) is relatively small, and the two are distinguished by size. However, to this day, none of the unearthed bronze wares claiming to be "nao", but there are zheng (zhēng), such as the famous "ran zheng (zhēng)".

Judging from archaeological discoveries, zheng (zhēng) was still very popular in the marching ceremonies during the Han, Wei and Jin dynasties. Archaeological circles call zheng (zhēng) as Big nao (náo).
What was the role of zheng (zhēng) in ancient society? Its main functions are as follows:
1. In ancient times, zheng (zhēng) was a musical instrument. After the appearance of zheng (zhēng), zheng (zhēng) can play music or send out relatively clear signals, which should be similar to the meaning of modern bugle;
2. In the military, zheng (zhēng) can be used to issue signals and restrict the pace. "Book of Songs Xiaoya Caiqi" says: "Zheng (zhēng) is used to calm it, and drum to move it."
3. Zheng (zhēng) can also be used for sacrifices and feasts.
There are not many zheng (zhēng) discovered now, and they all belong to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The most famous one is Ran Zheng (zhēng). So, what kind of bronze ware is Ran Zheng (zhēng)?
The basic characteristics of Ran Zheng (zhēng) are as follows:
Name: Ran Zheng (zhēng);
Category: Bronze;
Period: Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC);
Specifications: length 36 cm, handle length 16.3 cm, mouth length 14.5 cm, mouth width 12.5 cm;
Inscription: Ran Zheng (zhēng) has an inscription of 18 lines and 91 characters, which records historical relics such as foreign expeditions during the period of King Wu's Mengshou period.

Experts have determined that Ran Zheng (zhēng) can play the rhythm of the ancient "Jia Zhong", "Huang Zhong" and the multiple of "Huang Zhong".