The Bronze Age 4000 years ago: an exquisite chapter in the history of Liaoning
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According to the investigation, the Bronze Age in Liaoning Province, from 2000 BC to 300 BC BC, has experienced three stages: the early (Xia Dynasty to the early Shang Dynasty), the middle (late Shang Dynasty to the early Western Zhou Dynasty), and the late (late Western Zhou Dynasty to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty).
The distribution of cultural relics of the Bronze Age in Liaoning is divided into two cultural blocks: western Liaoning and eastern Liaoning, with Yiwulü Mountain as the boundary. The bronze culture of Liaoxi flourished earlier, while Liaodong was relatively lagging behind.
Bronze culture in various regions of Liaoning has distinct local characteristics, and there are varying degrees and very complex internal connections between each other.
What bronze treasures have been unearthed in western Liaoning
Hou Yu - The earliest discovered bronze ware in Liaoning
The rust color is green, the shape is solemn, and the decoration is exquisite. There is a very precious bronze treasure in the National Museum of China. It is the Hou Yu of the Western Zhou Dynasty unearthed in 1955 in the Machanggou, Haidao Yingzi, Harqin Zuoyi Mongol Autonomous County.
Yu was an ancient food container, and bronze cups were mainly found from the Shang Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn period.
Hou Yu has a height of 24 centimeters and a caliber of 35 centimeters, with a wide mouth, deep abdomen, flat bottom, and circular feet. The upper part of the two appendages is connected to the body by a crossbeam.
Its main decoration is a phoenix pattern, with a bird head resembling a dragon and a phoenix crown winding down, making the decoration very magnificent.
Phoenix symbolizes auspiciousness. In the early to mid Western Zhou period, various patterns of phoenix can often be seen in the decoration of bronze vessels. The shape of the phoenix bird crown includes multi toothed crowns like the "emperor" character in the Jin script, large bird patterns with pointed curved corners on the head, and magnificent long crowned phoenix patterns like those on the Hou Yu.
The entire utensil has a solemn shape, demonstrating the dignity and status of the owner. So who is actually using this device?
On the inner wall of the Marquis Yu, there is a five character inscription "Marquis Yu makes a bowl", which means "the bowl used by Marquis Yu to hold rice". Who is the Marquis? Experts explain that "匽" is the ancient form of "Yan". Yan was a vassal state granted to the famous minister of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Shaogong, in the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty. It lasted for more than 800 years from the time when Shaogong was granted the title of Northern Yan to the time when Qin destroyed Yan in 222 BC, and was passed down to 42 kings.
According to archaeological discoveries, there are ancient city sites and tombs of the Yan state in Liuli River, Fangshan County, Beijing. Many bronze artifacts with inscriptions of "Hou" have also been unearthed. It is speculated that the political center of the Yan state during the Western Zhou Dynasty was likely located in the Beijing area, and "Hou" was the general term for the ruler of the Yan state at that time. Based on the comprehensive consideration of the shape and inscriptions of the Marquis Yu, it can be inferred that the Marquis Yu was cast during the reign of Emperor Chengwang in the early Western Zhou Dynasty. The inscription on the bronze ware of the same period in the Yan Dynasty often includes the words "Marquis Zhi". According to expert research, "Marquis Zhi" is the eldest son of Duke Zhao, so it is inferred that the Marquis Yu may also have been made by the eldest son of Duke Zhao.
The excavation of Hou Tongyu indicates that the western region of Liaoning belonged to the Yan state's fiefdom in the early Western Zhou Dynasty.
Taotie patterned square tripod - the earliest discovered bronze ware in our province
In 1973, archaeological workers excavated and unearthed a large square tripod in Kazuo County, with a height of 86 centimeters and a weight of over 50 kilograms.
This square tripod is thick and regular, with exquisite casting. Decorated with gluttonous patterns, with double erect ears, deep round belly, and a three legged beast shaped cone.
Archaeologists concluded that this tripod was cast about 3200 years ago, earlier than the Simuwu square tripod in the Yin Ruins and the Dayuan tripod in Tomb of Fu Hao.
Suppliers of other bronze antiques
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