Period:Unknown Production date:400s
Materials:bronze
Technique:
Subjects:daoism myth/legend
Dimensions:Diameter: 20.90 centimetres Weight: 898 grammes
Description:
Bronze mirror representing Daoist mythical animals, Xi Wang Mu, Dong Wang Gong, Bo Ya and Yellow Emperor.
IMG
![图片[1]-mirror BM-1965-0223.1-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Unknown/Bronzes/mid_00310360_001.jpg)
Comments:According to Prof Jun’ichiro Tsujita of Kyushu University, this bronze mirror was produced probably in 5th-century China using a mould based on a late 2nd to early 3rd century design. Although this type of bronze mirror has been excavated only in Japan, in terms of the techniques employed the mirror appears to have been made in China. (24 Feb 2017)Prof Shoji Morishita of Otemae University has has commented that the type of this mirror is called 画文帯同向式神獣鏡 that originates in Han Dynasty, China. However, the mirror itself is thought to have been made in China during Six Dynasties period. (E-mail correspondence, March 2018) This mirror is said to come from a tomb mound near Miyachidake, Chikuzen province. It is an imitation of Chinese imports.Bronze, AD 250-710Given by Prof Umehara Sueji銅鏡MirrorsBronze mirrors continued to be very popular with rulers during the Kofun (mounded tomb) period (AD 250-600). During the earlier Yayoi period (500 BC-AD250), many mirrors were imported from northern Korea and China, whereas now the majority were made in Japan itself. They were buried with the dead, along with other treasures such as beads and weapons.Craftsmen cast mirrors in bronze then decorated them with elaborate designs on the back. Sometimes the patterns are geometric, sometimes of beasts and deities. Perhaps the beasts represented the calendar and the deities protected the cardinal directions. The mirrors had a hole to thread a cord for handling.Mirrors were often given to seal friendship with neighbouring peoples. Several could be made from the same mould. Tracking them has made it possible to reconstruct networks of political alliances across western Japan.(Label copy, 2017)
Materials:bronze
Technique:
Subjects:daoism myth/legend
Dimensions:Diameter: 20.90 centimetres Weight: 898 grammes
Description:
Bronze mirror representing Daoist mythical animals, Xi Wang Mu, Dong Wang Gong, Bo Ya and Yellow Emperor.
IMG
Comments:According to Prof Jun’ichiro Tsujita of Kyushu University, this bronze mirror was produced probably in 5th-century China using a mould based on a late 2nd to early 3rd century design. Although this type of bronze mirror has been excavated only in Japan, in terms of the techniques employed the mirror appears to have been made in China. (24 Feb 2017)Prof Shoji Morishita of Otemae University has has commented that the type of this mirror is called 画文帯同向式神獣鏡 that originates in Han Dynasty, China. However, the mirror itself is thought to have been made in China during Six Dynasties period. (E-mail correspondence, March 2018) This mirror is said to come from a tomb mound near Miyachidake, Chikuzen province. It is an imitation of Chinese imports.Bronze, AD 250-710Given by Prof Umehara Sueji銅鏡MirrorsBronze mirrors continued to be very popular with rulers during the Kofun (mounded tomb) period (AD 250-600). During the earlier Yayoi period (500 BC-AD250), many mirrors were imported from northern Korea and China, whereas now the majority were made in Japan itself. They were buried with the dead, along with other treasures such as beads and weapons.Craftsmen cast mirrors in bronze then decorated them with elaborate designs on the back. Sometimes the patterns are geometric, sometimes of beasts and deities. Perhaps the beasts represented the calendar and the deities protected the cardinal directions. The mirrors had a hole to thread a cord for handling.Mirrors were often given to seal friendship with neighbouring peoples. Several could be made from the same mould. Tracking them has made it possible to reconstruct networks of political alliances across western Japan.(Label copy, 2017)
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