What are the special features of the bronze pot cast by "Xing", the son of "Shibi"?
When it comes to the treasures of Chinese bronze ware, it is inevitable to mention the No.1 Baicun Cellar in Fufengzhuang, Shaanxi. A total of 103 pieces of bronze ware were unearthed here, 74 of which were inscribed, including "Bronze History Book" Shi Qiang pan, "Art Treasure" Zigong, "Three Year Xinghu", "Thirteen Year Xinghu", and so on. Fortunately, in this special exhibition of "Chinese Characters - Chinese Civilization between Founders", visitors can see many bronzes from No.1 Cellar of Zhuangbai at one time in Chengdu Museum.
The name of Shi Qiang pan comes from the fact that the person who intended to cast the artifact was named "Qiang" and the position was "Shi". The names of "Three Year Xinghu" and "Thirteen Year Xinghu" have the same origin. The person named "Xing" received a reward from the King of Zhou. In order to commemorate this event and also to praise the gift of the King of Zhou, these two bronze objects were cast.
The Three Year Xinghu was cast in the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Two Xinghu were unearthed from Zhuangbaicun, with similar shapes, sizes, and decorations. Overall, it is rich and dignified, with rough and bold decorations, complex but not disorderly. The main decoration is adorned with ripple patterns, which are pictographic patterns. The Thirteen Year Xinghu was cast during the transitional period from the middle to late Western Zhou Dynasty, retaining the basic trend of the early and middle Western Zhou Dynasty while also promoting the characteristics of the late Western Zhou Dynasty. Like the three year Xinghu, a total of two pieces were unearthed in the thirteen year Xinghu, and the inscriptions on the decorative patterns of the vessels are basically the same. Its basic form is a round belly, long neck, and circular foot shaped gripper, with animal head rings and circular feet on both sides of the neck. There is a long inscription on the neck, and the abdominal decoration is a unique cross band inscription in the northern region. It is worth mentioning that geometric patterns have already appeared on the decorative patterns of the 13th year Xinghu. In this regard, the commentator quoted the philosopher Li Zehou's point of view: "Geometric patterns are gradually developed from realistic animal images to Abstraction symbols, which are just decorative and beautiful, and have no specific significance. At that time, they had the meaning of witchcraft etiquette totem."
What method was used to cast such exquisite patterns? Two staff members explained that the ancient people mainly used the model method to manufacture bronze ware. Firstly, use clay to create the shape of bronze vessels and carve patterns as internal molds. After the internal formwork is completely dry, apply a layer of Wood ash, and then wrap a layer of mud on the outside of Wood ash. After it is completely dry, peel the outermost layer of mud to get the external formwork. Cut off a certain thickness of the inner mold, fit it with the outer mold, and then pour melted bronze liquid into it. After setting, the bronze ware can be obtained.
Since they all come from the No.1 cellar of Zhuangbai Village, these two bronzes, like Shi Qiang pan, should belong to the Wei family. The commentator told the reporter that in fact, the wall is the sixth generation, Xing is the seventh generation, and the wall is the father of Xing. This relationship can be confirmed by the "Father Ding" in the inscription on Xingjue 94 and the "Emperor Kao Ding Gong" in the inscription on Xingzhong 64. The Wei family passed down to Xingshi, with great power and fortune, and became the favored ministers of the royal family. Xingshi often accompanied the King of Zhou and received heavy rewards, which is clearly recorded in the inscriptions he cast.
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