Shield-shaped “Anming” Bronze Mirror with Paired Sword Design, Southern Song period, 1127-1279
- Image Number: K1A002013N000000000PAB
- Dynasty: Southern Song dynasty
- Category: Bronzes
- Function: Magic instrument
- Material: Mineral/Metal/Bronze
- Description:
The shield shaped mirror is a new type of mirror in the Song Dynasty. There are thick bridge buttons above the mirror back. The button is fastened with a big ring. The mirror back is mainly decorated with Taoist patterns. In the middle is a three legged tripod shaped furnace, which spurts out flame beads. On both sides are Ruyi shaped sword heads. The body of the sword is decorated with cloud patterns. There are four characters of seal script inscription on both sides, which are “An Ming Gui Bao” and “Fu Jian Er Jing”. Since the late Tang Dynasty, mirrors and swords have been the symbols of Taoism. Both of them are similar in material quality. They are considered to be endowed with the essence of heaven and earth’s yin and yang, with spirituality and divine power, so they have the idea of combining sword and mirror. The bronze mirror with sword and Taoist design should be used as a magic weapon. Since the Song Dynasty was only the 32nd year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1162) and the 2nd year of Qiandao in the Zhixiaozong era (1166), the mirror should have been cast during this period. The same mirror was unearthed in Nanchang, Jiangxi. in
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