Dian bronze art: its source and formation

Abstract

The stylistic variation in Dian bronze art delineates the society of the Dian culture (4th century BC-1st century AD) as a hierarchical one that also had affinities to a wide range of alien cultures. Further studies of archaeological materials uncovered in Yunnan sites reveal that population movements, continual cultural assimilation, and frequent technological exchanges in and around Yunnan resulted in the creation of a hybrid bronze art, which was eventually transplanted on to the indigenous cultural stratum in east-central Yunnan.