As the king of the hundred beasts, the image of the tiger is awe-inspiring in its bravery and might. Whether it is a totem that highlights status and power, or a patron saint who prays for blessings and wards off evil spirits, or a synonym for bravery and fearlessness, from ancient times to the present, the image of the tiger has penetrated into various fields such as military, political, religious, and social life, forming a distinctive "tiger culture" and leaving a wealth of cultural relics.
Liaoning, as one of the origins of Chinese civilization, has a profound historical and cultural heritage, and has unearthed many precious cultural relics related to "tigers".
Today, the Northland client takes you across the millennium in a treasure hunt for "tigers".
Yan Wang Zhige, Warring States, excavated in 1967 in Dongguan Yingzi, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province.
Ge is a weapon unique to ancient China, which can be used both horizontally and hooked, and was widely used in the pre-Qin period, especially in vehicle warfare.
This piece is 27 cm long and has a tiger-shaped stripe on it. The original intention of people to use the tiger as a tool was to use the prestige of the tiger to combine royal power with divine power to symbolize political power. The casting of the tiger on the bronze weapon is not only a manifestation of the tiger, but also a symbol of power and status.
This piece of Ge, Hu shang cast inscription: "Emperor Zhao Of the Imperial Sima "" (郾王職乍御史司馬)." The Yan lineage contained in the Records of History has no more than a dozen weapons found, mostly in Yanxiadu, Yi County, Hebei. Its discovery can make up for the doubts of history, Yan should indeed have a "job" generation, according to time calculations may be the son of King Yan Zhaowang. The discovery of Yan Wangge provides extremely important physical evidence for Yan's activities in Liaoning and is an extremely valuable cultural relic.
Bronze Tiger Zi, Northern Yan, excavated in 1965 from the tomb of Feng Sufu of Northern Yan, Liaoning Province.
Tiger zi is an ancient drowning vessel, that is, a night pot, generally made of a tiger shape, commonly found in the tombs of the Jiangnan region from the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms and two Jin Dynasties, which are rare in the north and mostly porcelain, and this kind of bronze cast tiger is extremely rare.
This bronze tiger, 38 cm long, round tube-style large mouth, from the mouth to the tail throughout the hollow, the body in addition to the cast pattern, neck, back, chest, tail and carved thin lines to represent the mane.
Although this tiger shape is prostrate on all fours, its form is mighty and delicate in its majesty, which is a rare masterpiece.
Crouching Tiger porcelain pillow, Liao, Liaoning Chaoyang Dacanzi village excavated.
The ancients used the shape of a tiger as a pillow, reflecting the custom of worshipping the tiger. Tiger-shaped pillows were first burned in the Tang Dynasty and became popular in the Northern Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty.
This tiger pillow, thick red porcelain tire, full of iron color. The whole is crouching tiger-shaped, and the ears are hollow.
Because the image of the tiger is mighty and brave, the pillow is made into a tiger shape or the tiger pattern is engraved on the pillow, which contains the meaning of warding off evil spirits and auspicious rui, expressing people's good wishes for honorable prestige, warding evil spirits and exorcising demons and killing auspiciousness, which is deeply loved by the people.
"Zhenglong Five Years" white porcelain to buy land coupons, gold, Liaoning Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, JianGuantun kiln site excavated.
The land purchase voucher is a kind of burial product placed in the tomb in ancient times, which records the four to the deceased to buy the cemetery, the land price, the witness and the prohibition of encroachment.
The lower end of this land purchase coupon is cut inward on both sides and inserted on the sauce-glazed porcelain tiger seat. According to the coupon text, the owner of the coupon, Wang Xing, was a "porcelain kiln worker in Liaoyang Township, Liaoyang County, Liaoyang Province, Tokyo", and Kim Jong-yong died in the fifth year (1160). Buy land from the gods, use "green dragon, white tiger, suzaku, xuanwu" to explain the four to the land, establish the owner's ownership of the land, and not be infringed by the ghosts and gods.
The land purchase coupon is usually brick and stone, and the identity of the owner of this coupon is "porcelain kiln service", so the special porcelain land purchase coupon. The porcelain tiger under the coupon version is lying down, with round eyes and open mouth, which has a seismic effect.
Tiger pattern sarcophagus plate, Tang, Liaoning Chaoyang Zhang Xiu tomb excavated.
The Green Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu are known as the Four Gods or Four Elephants, and are the mascots loved by the people, which have the effect of warding off evil spirits, avoiding disasters, and praying for blessings. The tiger, the head of a hundred beasts, and the mighty cannibal figure has the ability to subdue ghosts and ward off disasters among the four gods. The ancients believed that tigers could devour ghosts, and used it as the natural god in charge of wind and thunder, and also as the mount of the god of wealth, the god of mountains, the god of land and the god of the city, and together with various gods, they became the guardian gods of peace and wealth. In the Qi men escape, the place where the tiger appears means auspicious and benevolent, which can protect the prosperity of the descendants and the prosperity of the generations. In the Han Dynasty, it was mostly used as a decoration on tiles, bronze mirrors, burial chambers and burial utensils. It was very popular from the Two Jin Dynasties and the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the early years of the Tang Dynasty.
In addition to the above, there are many cultural relics of considerable historical value "Tiger" in the Collection of Liaoning Museum, what other tiger elements have you seen? Feel free to interact with us in the comments section!
Reporters: Sun Minghui and Huang Hanbo
Source: Liaoning Daily