Han-era Funerary Art Objects — Works of Bronze. Han-era Bronze Aesthetics

Abstract

Speaking of bronze here we refer to various objects made of bronze which is an alloy composed of pure copper and tin, which contains a small fraction of lead. Because bronze is an alloy, its melting point is at a lower temperature than that of pure copper, but the material itself is harder. Ji jin 1 (吉金)ritual metal vessels, mentioned in ancient Chinese sources are in fact works of bronze. The invention of bronze alloys was an event of epochal historical importance. Thus, the period from the invention of bronze to ubiquitous use of iron is called the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age in China began with the birth of the Chinese civilization. It lasted until the end of Han dynasty and had several stages of development. Works of bronze first appeared in China in slave-owning society of XiaShang (夏商2070 BC), and reached its zenith at the peak of slave-owning system at the end of Shang (商)and the beginning of Zhou. After the end of Chunqiu period (春 秋475 BC) the slave-owning system began to decline, and the production of bronze items dwindled. In comparison to Shang and Zhou (周朝) bronze, Han objects are much smaller in size because during this period their primary purpose was to be used in common everyday life. Mystical, solemn and even somewhat barbaric bronze of Shang and Zhou was replaced by modest, practical and convenient household utensils.