Symbolic Explanation of Bronze Decoration Patterns
1.Totem marks A totem is a natural image, most of which is an animal image. A primitive clan believes that this natural image has a special relationship with their own clan, or regards it as the ancestor of the clan, or regards it as the original The relatives or patron saints of the clan, so they worship and worship it very devoutly. Such as dragon pattern, Kuilong pattern, phoenix pattern, cicada pattern and so on. Dragon pattern is the most auspicious and sacred decoration of the Chinese nation, and the most representative symbol of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation.
In the Neolithic Age, dragon patterns were close to the images of lizards and geckos, and gradually evolved into Kuilong patterns and dragon patterns in the Bronze Age. The phoenix pattern evolved from the black bird on the original painted pottery. The basic image of the Western Zhou Dynasty is a pheasant. The main feature of the early phoenix pattern is that it has wings flying upwards. Therefore, the phoenix pattern is the most beautiful pattern among bronze wares. the
2. Worship of gods Among the bronze decorations, the Taotie pattern has the strongest religious meaning. There are various theories about Taotie, and there are two main ones: one is that they are the remnants of the totem concept in primitive society; , or extended to "images of various animals on bronze instruments working with assistant Wu Jitong Tiandi".
In the minds of ancient humans, the whole world is full of all kinds of weird elves, some of whom are masters or friends of human destiny, and some are monsters and ghosts who specialize in making trouble for human beings. Ancient humans attributed all kinds of natural or social disasters to monsters. Exorcising demons and ghosts is one of the important activities of primitive people. This activity is usually called exorcising evil spirits. For example, the Simuwu Fangding Ding is a masterpiece of bronzes in the late Shang Dynasty, which uses a decorative strip composed of fine cloud patterns to set off the relief-like animal-mask motif.
3. Exorcising gods and warding off evil spirits In the decorations of Shang and Zhou dynasties, it can be seen that deified animals cannibalize people to ward off evil spirits. This image of using totem animals to prey on monsters to ward off evil spirits reflects the struggle between gods and demons, and also reflects the struggle between man and nature in a tortuous way. The tiger eats people, the copper body is in the shape of a tiger sitting, with the tiger's hind paws and tail as the three supporting points, and the tiger's front paws are powerfully grabbing a person with broken legs, in the shape of eating food. The shape is very realistic and vivid.
The shape of this you is complex, showing the superb casting skills. We can understand it as to ward off evil spirits and reflect the myth of "tiger eating ghosts"; ".
4. Decorative effect The natural images in bronzes are mostly expressed by means of variation, the most common ones are cloud and thunder patterns, swirl patterns and water ripples. On the "ground", it is also called "ground pattern".
This "mutation phenomenon" not only shows the way of thinking inherited from the primitive ancestors who tried to transcend reality with the help of imagination, but also shows the fantasy inspired by social hierarchy and power consciousness in the slave era. The three-dimensional and embossed Taotie patterns, Kui patterns, etc., set off various background patterns such as cloud and thunder patterns engraved with lines, forming a dense and complex pattern. Strong religious emotion is highlighted on the bronze ware, which is mysterious and strange, and the momentum is compelling.
The development of Chinese bronze wares mainly experienced three historical periods: Xia, Shang, and Zhou. During this period, the style of bronze wares changed from a solemn artistic style to a simple, concise, and lively style. At the same time, the social function of bronze wares gradually changed from sacrificial ritual vessels to practical ones. appliance. The decoration of bronze wares changed from the solemn taotie and kui patterns to the rhythmic stealing and ring patterns, and then developed into the fresh panchi patterns, banquet and battle patterns, etc., during which the ferocious supernatural magic of animal patterns gradually weakened. , until lost.
This change in ornamentation is not only caused by the improvement of manufacturing technology or people's aesthetic level, but also has a certain relationship with the improvement of human productivity and social change. The emergence of bronze decorations is the crystallization of Chinese working people's diligence, simplicity, intelligence and wisdom. With superb casting skills, leave us an artistic treasure that symbolizes Chinese civilization.
Sculpmart is a professional bronze art and bronze wares manufacturer providing Chinese Bronze Handcraft arts which will allow you to have a chance to own a masterpiece of Chinese bronze sculptures. If you like, you may choose the style to customize, send us the image and design, our craftsman will reproduce and cast a perfect bronze ware for you.
