在中国历史上，青铜器不仅是“重器”,而且还是“贵器”尤其是带有铭文的青铜器。青铜器的铭文中常有受祭祖先和制器人的名字，以记彰功烈、宜扬孝道、赞颂美德，蕴涵了太多的历史文化。古人之所以将铭文铭刻在坚固的青铜器上，是深恐其他的材料会腐朽销蚀，不能永久保存。
In the history of China, bronze ware is not only "heavy ware", but also "precious ware", especially with inscriptions. The inscriptions of bronze wares often contain the names of ancestors and craftsmen to be sacrificed, so as to show their merits, promote filial piety and praise virtue, which contains too much history and culture. The reason why the ancients engraved the inscriptions on the solid bronzes was that they were afraid that other materials would be decayed and eroded and could not be preserved forever.
正如墨子所说：“又恐后世子孙不能知也，故书之竹帛，传遗后世子孙。咸恐其腐蠹绝灭，后世子孙不得而记，故琢之盘盂、镂之金石以重之。”墨子的话既说明了古人制作青铜器及铭文的主要目的，也说明先秦的思想家已开始重视研读青铜器上的铭文了。
As Mozi said, "we are afraid that our children and grandchildren can't know. The bamboo and silk of the old book are passed on to future generations. Salt is afraid that its decaying beetles will be extinct, which will not be remembered by future generations. Therefore, the dishes and bowls that are carved and the gold and stone that are carved out are of great importance. " Mozi's words not only show the main purpose of making bronze wares and inscriptions of the ancients, but also show that the thinkers of the pre Qin Dynasty have begun to pay attention to studying the inscriptions on bronze wares.