A brief history of bronze mirror art
Text: Zhu Xuan
Human beings first saw themselves as they really were through a natural vision. The most primitive appearance should be presented through the eyes of others, and this judgment is dependent. When human beings first see themselves through the reflection of daylight, it should be a major discovery, but this way of discovering themselves is so romantic.
Qi family culture star mirror Shanghai Museum collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Collection of Soochow Museum Music And Art Club Materials
Collection of Soochow Museum Music And Art Club Materials
Xia Shang Zhou Period: Bronze casting at this time has a prosperous face, and the reason why artifacts such as bronze mirrors were not more developed and enriched in that period should be that human beings worship the supreme being is the heaven and earth gods, so this communication is important, not the communication between people and people, and themselves. At this time, the cognition of the individual changed from the study of the current to the identification of bronze, an artifact that can hold water.
As a result, human cognition of the self shifts from nature to the interior, and the cognition at this time has been transformed into an appreciation and transformation of self-makeup. Under the development trend of bronze art, during the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, there were also instruments shaped like copper mirrors, mostly shaped elements, or decorated with animal patterns and light patterns, animal patterns symbolize life, and light patterns symbolized the sun.
Spring and Autumn, Warring States Period
The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period was a fragmented, and changeable era, because of the convenience of the times, the things that human beings cared about changed from magic and worship of heaven and earth to care for personal and human affairs. By the Warring States period, the breadth and depth of thought were further developed, and the expression of art forms by more free and liberated ideas was changed to freedom. Warring States bronze casting process is also brilliant, and at this time, as a bronze mirror art, in this period, it is greatly enhanced, the style and artistic expression that appeared have unprecedented development, it can be said that the Warring States period is the first peak period of Chinese bronze mirror art casting and artistic expression.
The art of the Warring States bronze mirror is not only reflected in the craftsmanship in its casting, but also in the diversity and richness of the content, which carries the artistic charm of the art creators at that time with a radiant light. During this period, the richness of bronze mirror art ornamentation combined with regional and cultural, in the context of diversified artistic development, there was a huge and rich illustration of bronze mirror art ornamentation, and its expressiveness and artistry were also an unprecedented appearance. Bronze mirror casting in the Warring States period is a specific system based on the bronze fan casting process system. At this time, the use of the four mountain mirrors, feather patterns, gluttony, cockroaches, bird and animal patterns, etc. is a symbol of a unified environment and regional culture.
Late Spring and Autumn And Early Warring States Period Fang Zheng
Tokyo Izumiya Hirokokan Photographed by Jun
Warring States Four Dragon Pattern Square Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Four Birds Pattern Square Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Through the Void Dragon Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Morphing Three Birds Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Dragon Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Dragon Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Beast Mirror Music And Art Society Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Inlaid Jade Turquoise Button Deformed Dragon Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Dragon and Phoenix Mirror Music And Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Warring States Four Mountains Mirror Shanghai Museum Music And Art Association Information
Qin and Han Dynasties
The Qin Dynasty was short, but it was a period of gradual change, and its unification of culture and system laid the foundation for the development of the two Han Dynasties later, and the Qin Dynasty began, and the subsequent dynastic development was integrated into the human mind with an internal period of unified development.
The Western Han Dynasty, a period of prosperity and stability, especially for the development of bronze mirror art, under the guidance of rich art in the Warring States period and the rich means of technological development, the Western Han Dynasty inherited the essence of the previous dynasty, and developed and created a unique bronze mirror art in this period. The general aesthetic trend of Western Han art tends to be symmetrical and harmonious, and there is a solemn and stable appearance, and this aesthetic inner pursuit reflects the han Dynasty's unified world at that time for a stable and balanced social development and a stable life. These elements of harmony appeal to the deep needs of the heart, and the social turmoil and instability of the Warring States to the Qin Dynasty led to the need for people's hearts to become harmonious.
Under the exquisite stability of human development and craftsmanship, a balanced and stable artistic design style has matured in the bronze mirror ornamentation, which also plays an important and stable support for the prosperity of the development of bronze mirror art in the Han Dynasty. The use of text on bronze mirrors that appeared in the Western Han Dynasty also shows the role of a more multicultural factor. See the light of the sun, the world is bright. What is expressed is a kind of earth view (cosmology) of the ancients, which is a common concept. The ancients' understanding of heaven and earth (the universe) was very self-contained, but this self was based on the reverence for nature and between people.
The content of the Western Han Dynasty bronze mirror ornament is more specific and realistic, it uses lines and rigorous formats to standardize in the circular style, all kinds of flowing lines and dignified words, there are descriptions, there are labels, there are romantic feelings and personal expectations and communication between man and God, man and heaven and earth.
Western Han Dynasty Four-breasted beast pattern copper mirror
Mancheng Han tomb unearthed Anqilu photographed
Western Han Dynasty Cockroach pattern rule mirror
Mancheng Han tomb unearthed Anqilu photographed
Western Han Dynasty cross-shaped dragon and phoenix pattern copper mirror
The tomb of the King of Nanyue was unearthed with information from the Music And Art Society
Western Han with copper mirror
The tomb of the King of Nanyue was unearthed with information from the Music And Art Society
Western Han Dynasty Even Arc Mirror Music Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Western Han Dynasty Changgui Fulian arc mirror music and art association information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Western Han Dynasty Bo Bureau even arc mirror music and art association information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Western Han Dynasty Bird and insect seal inscription painted mirror
Tsinghua University Art Museum Music And Art Association Materials
The bronze mirror art of the Eastern Han Dynasty was a continuation of the bronze mirror art of the Western Han Dynasty from the beginning, and in the middle and late period, there was a transcendent process development, at which time a high-relief bronze mirror art style appeared.
In this kind of artistic expression, it requires a huge change in the volume and shape of the bronze mirror, because it needs to carry a high-relief style and a more realistic specific image, and the artistic content at this time is mostly the relationship between xiandao thought and the way of life of human princes.
The development of high relief carving technology has further pushed the charm of ancient Chinese bronze mirror art to a new field in the expression of bronze mirror art. In the high-relief style of copper mirror art ornamentation, the change of layer and depth of ornamentation is further strengthened, a sense of space, which is specifically reflected in the bronze mirror art ornament. Throughout the Han Dynasty bronze mirror art, the overall aesthetic has a large pattern and fine mattress meticulous performance.
Eastern Han Dynasty Changyi descendants even arc mirror and gilded dragon pattern mirror frame music and art association information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Eastern Han Dynasty Shi's carriage and horse character portrait mirror Music art association information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Eastern Han Dynasty Gilded Heavenly King Sun Moon God Man Divine Beast Portrait Mirror Music Art Association Information
Shanghai Museum Collection Donated by Mr. Lloyd Kouzen
Eastern Han Dynasty "King Wu" portrait bronze mirror music and art association information
Soochow Museum
Six Dynasties period
At this time, the bronze mirror art followed the two Han bronze mirror art and craft production methods. Although it is more single in artistic expression, it does have a more flexible artistic expression method.
Dragon and Tiger Mirror of the Three Kingdoms Music And Art Association Information
Jiangyin Museum
Three Kingdoms Wu Buddha character inscription Buddha statue remnant mirror
Tsinghua University Art Museum Music And Art Association Materials
Jin Dynasty opposing inscription mirror Music art association information
Wuhan Museum
Sui and Tang Dynasties
Although the Sui Dynasty was short-lived, it was a period of art that inherited the past and the future. The art of the bronze mirror is still the same, . During this period, Tongjing art took on a new look. Just as there are crafts and artistic styles that inherit the craftsmanship of the previous dynasty, there are rich new elements integrated. There was also a breakthrough in the casting process, showing the progress of the process, and its development directly affected the later Tang Dynasty.
Sui Dynasty Renshou Mirror Shaanxi History Museum
MengCun, Yongtai Township, Yongshou County, unearthed music and art association materials
Sui Dynasty Zodiac Mirror
Xi'an Museum Mu Yi ancient art shooting
Sui and Tang Dynasties Xianshan and Ling Zodiac Mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Sui and Tang Dynasty Zodiac Mirrors Shanghai Museum Collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
During the Tang Dynasty, the performance of bronze mirror art was almost an epoch-making change, from the craftsmanship to the presentation of artistic styles and contents, it was an insurmountable new peak, which can also be called: the Tang Dynasty period was the third peak of Chinese bronze mirror art.
Tang Dynasty bronze mirror, there is a breakthrough in technology, its copper ratio and the luminosity presented after casting, can make the copper mirror this artifact shine and be pleasing to mankind. The content of the bronze mirror ornament is a high relief, mostly sea beast ornamentation and bird running beast, as well as various factors and foreign cultural fusion images are integrated. There have been diversified transformations in the shape system, the example of petal shape has become a common style, and the use of space is more to let the theme image and add more blanks, in the portrayal of the specific image of the full and full of realistic state, more show the ultimate of the process. Integration and application of other processes. In the development environment of other crafts in the Tang Dynasty, the art of bronze mirrors was further applied and integrated. For example, the art of inlaying and the process of composite gold and silver hammer discs have been seen. The use of space by the bronze mirror art of the Tang Dynasty also directly shows the artistic creativity of the bronze mirror art at this time.
Tang Dynasty double lion double phoenix pattern copper mirror
Shaanxi History Museum Music and Art Club Information
Tang Dynasty double phoenix branch pattern copper mirror
Shaanxi History Museum Music and Art Club Information
Tang Dynasty Four Luans Ribbon Ribbon Gold and Silver Flat Off-Mirror
Shaanxi History Museum Music and Art Club Information
Tang Dynasty snail flower bird pattern flat off mirror
Shaanxi History Museum Music and Art Club Information
Tang paste silver gilded double luan walking beast eight flower mirror
Tokyo Izumiya Hirokokan Photographed by Jun
Tang Yunlong pattern eight flower mirror
Tokyo Izumiya Hirokokan Photographed by Jun
Tang Wu Feng Fox Eight Prisms
Tokyo Izumiya Hirokokan Photographed by Jun
Xi'an Museum Mu Yi ancient art shooting
Xi'an Museum Mu Yi ancient art shooting
Tang Dynasty Golden-backed Rui Beast Grape Mirror
Xi'an Museum Mu Yi ancient art shooting
Xi'an Museum Mu Yi ancient art shooting
Tang Wuyue mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Rui Beast Grape Pattern Mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Wuyue square mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Rui beast grape pattern square mirror Shanghai Museum collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Siling Mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Silver-backed gilded bird and beast pattern rhombus mirror Collection of Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang inlaid screw mirror Shanghai Museum collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Tiandi contains the mirror of the Five Mountains of The Shanghai Museum
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Tang Jinyinping feathered people flower and bird pattern copper mirror
National Museum Of Music and Arts
Tang Screw Flower Bird Character Pattern Copper Mirror
National Museum Of Music and Arts
Tang Yinping off the flower bird hunting immortal pattern mirror
Shanghai Museum Photographed by Han Huizhi
Tang Yinping took off the four phoenix pattern angle mirror
Shanghai Museum Photographed by Han Huizhi
The Cleveland Museum of Art was photographed by the elder
In the late Tang Dynasty, although there was a brilliance in craftsmanship, there was a new look in style and content, which collected more abundant factors, and the bronze mirror ornamentation became diverse, and the role of the bronze mirror was expanded. His craftsmanship has always influenced the later Song and Liao-Jin dynasties.
Five Dynasties, Liao, Song and Jin Dynasties
The fifth generation was another turbulent period, when the art of bronze mirrors failed to continue the glory of the Tang Dynasty, but there was a new development in the foundry industry. The emergence of new craftsmanship, applied to the casting of bronze mirror art, has a new look, and its specific presentation is more specific in the later Song and Liaojin periods.
Southern Tang "Du Province Copper Fang" bronze mirror
Zhejiang Provincial Museum Music and Art Association Information
Southern Tang Long Live Mirror
Yangzhou Museum Music and Art Association Information
The bronze mirror art of the Song and Liaojin dynasties retained a kind of physical richness, and the content also broke through the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, which was actually the expression of people for specific cultures in the Song Liaojin period.
A slightly secularized content with fairy ideas is produced, and for life, the content of the customs has also paid more attention, including the portrayal of worshipful content and the appearance of mythical yearning content. Under the change of casting technology, the overall bronze mirror art ornament was also transformed accordingly, which was closely related to the culture of the time.
The Southern Song Dynasty was a relatively prosperous era of technological development, and the bronze mirror art at this time was more diverse in form, and there were many new ideas and retro and ancient feelings in shape. And there is also a more secular manifestation of the content.
Northern Song Dynasty "Cheng" character peony pattern copper mirror
Guobo Tong Cheng shooting
Tokyo Izumiya Hirokokan Photographed by Jun
Soochow Museum Music and Art Club Information
Liao Two Hearts And Two Hearts Forever Lotus Figure Mirror Shanghai Museum Collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Liao Dynasty Khitan bronze mirror
Jilin Provincial Museum Recreation shooting
Liao Dynasty honeysuckle copper mirror
Liaoning Provincial Museum Ghost Fang photography
Liaoning Provincial Museum Ghost Fang photography
Liaoning Provincial Museum Ghost Fang photography
Liaoning Provincial Museum Small corn shooting
Gold Pisces mirror Shanghai Museum collection
Mr. Lloyd Kouzen donated information for the music club
Jindai Pisces Mirror Guobo Music And Art Association Information
Linyi Museum Music and Art Club Information
Kindai Seawater Pisces Mirror
Guobo Tong Cheng shooting
Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties
By the Yuan Dynasty, the development of bronze mirror art had stagnated, the technology was inferior to that of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and the form was relatively simple, but it also had the characteristics of the time. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, there were further breakthroughs and the style of the button system, which was also different from the previous creative change, the composite and split type of casting, these new breakthroughs directly affected the early Ming Dynasty's bronze mirror art expression, the change in theme and style.
Shaanxi History Museum Music and Art Club Information
The economy of the Ming Dynasty was prosperous and open, and the continuation of the handmade workmanship of the self-employed workshop style since the Southern Song Dynasty produced a relatively rich development in the Ming Dynasty. As a result, more customized copper mirrors appeared in this period, mostly reflected in human expectations for a better life, and appeared exceptionally rich in large text mirrors. The rich theme of the Multi-Treasure Mirror that appeared in the Ming Dynasty includes the more specific and rich humanistic feelings and imagination at that time. In this genre style, the button of the bronze mirror can be said to be one of the richest and most diverse expressions in the history of bronze mirror art, and it has become one of the important elements integrated with the main ornamentation.
The art of bronze mirrors in the Qing Dynasty was directly influenced by the crafts of the Ming Dynasty, but there were no rich changes in the content performance, and the fate of copper mirrors replaced by other materials in the application was inevitable, and the traditional custom mirrors with workshops that appeared in the early Qing Dynasty, Huzhou Jing also had a spectacular development, which can be seen as a Y style with special significance. Later, there was a royal retro, and this form further made the copper mirror that entered the folk more inclined to its own role. At this point, the application of the casting process of the brilliant Chinese bronze mirror art has entered a complete state in the change of the times. But the glory of Chinese bronze mirror art runs through China's thousands of years of history, and his own artistic brilliance will shine for thousands of years.
Ming Dynasty Duobao Mirror
Linyi Museum Music and Art Club Information
Ming Dynasty Four Phoenixes and Four Beast Mirrors
Information of the National Expo Music And Art Club
Information of the National Expo Music And Art Club
Information of the National Expo Music And Art Club
Qing Dynasty Xue Jin Marquis Hundred Zi Mirror
Information of the National Expo Music And Art Club
Qing Fu Shou double full extra large bronze mirror
Zhenjiang Museum Music and Art Club Information
This article has been published by the author with the permission of the Music Club
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