鷄首壺 小考

Abstract

A jar with chicken head is a form representing the Liu-Chao pottery that appeared in Eastern Wu(東吳), and was popular during the Liu-Chao(六朝) and Sui (隋) period. Contrary to the previous view that it appeared in the Western Jin(西晉)-Eastern Jin(東晉) replacement period, the time of its appearance was retroactive to the middle of the Eastern Wu period. The background of its appearance reflects the ancient Chinese concept of admiring chickens and due to the Cheongdam(淸談) trend that was popular at the time, the era of pursuing aesthetic elegance in the culture of drinking alcohol and tea was reflected in the ceramic culture. A jar with chicken head is a new model that emerged by fusion of traditional elements and foreign Gandhara style elements. A jar with chicken head was used as a kettle contained alcohol or tea, but it became large after the middle of the Northern and Southern Dynasty period, and its use as a kettle deteriorated. In particular, it was enlarged and decorated with splendid relief patterns in the Northern Dynasty period, so it was used as a decoration rather than a daily container, and was buried in the tomb after the owner's death.