Gold-plated bronze humanoid lamp
abstract
Bronzes of Han Dynasty in China. 1968 was unearthed in the tomb of Dou Wan, the wife of Liu Sheng, the king of Zhongshan Jing, Mancheng County, Hebei Province. The lamp body of the palace lantern is a gilded maid-in-waiting, sitting with the lamp in both hands, with an elegant expression. The lamp body is 48 cm high and weighs 15.85 kg. Palace lanterns are cleverly designed. Maid-in-waiting holds a lamp in one hand and a sleeve in the other to suck oil smoke like a rainbow tube, which not only prevents air pollution but also has aesthetic value. This palace lantern was once placed in Changxin Palace in Dou Taihou (Liu Sheng's grandmother), hence its name. Now in Hebei Provincial Museum.
The whole body is plated with gold, and the maid-in-waiting sits in a lamp shape and is hollow. The whole body consists of six parts: head, body, right arm, lamp holder, lamp board and lampshade, all of which are detachable. The maid-in-waiting wears wide-sleeved underwear and robes, holds the lamp holder in her left hand, and raises her right arm to communicate with the lamp top, forming a flue. The lampshade is formed by folding two arc-shaped plates, which can move to adjust the light and direction. The lamp panel has a handle and dead wood in it. This seat looks like a bean. There are 9 inscriptions and 65 words engraved on the lamp body, which respectively record the capacity, weight and owner of the lamp. Because the lamp is engraved with the word "Long Letter", it is named "Long Letter Palace Lantern". According to textual research, this lamp was originally owned by Yang Xin and Liu Hou Jie in the Western Han Dynasty. Liu was knighted when he revealed Emperor Wen and knighted when Emperor Jing. The property and the lamp were confiscated by the court and used by the Queen Mother's residence, Xin Palace. Later, Empress Dou Shi gave it to her ethnic relatives. As a special product and gift of the imperial court and palace, it was also very precious at that time. For a long time, Changxin Palace Lantern has been widely praised as the pinnacle of arts and crafts in China and an important representative of national crafts. This is not only because it is unique, rare and precious, but also because of its exquisite production technology and ingenious and unique artistic conception.
Changxin Palace Lantern has changed the mystery and massiness of bronze vessels in the past, and its overall shape and decorative style are relaxed, light and gorgeous. It is a practical and beautiful lamp treasure. It can be called "the first Eden in China". The method of casting separately and then synthesizing into a whole is adopted. Experts in archaeology and metallurgical history agree that this kind of lamp is second to none among palace lanterns in Han Dynasty with its exquisite design and high-level manufacturing technology.
Explain a name
Changxin Palace Lantern is one of the bronze gilded lanterns in Han Dynasty, which was cast in 172. People's Republic of China (PRC) national first-class cultural relics. Archaeologist Bai Zai 1968 discovered Douwan Tomb (on a cliff about 1.5 km southwest of Mancheng County, Baoding City, Hebei Province). It is now on display in the exhibition area of "Man Cheng Han Tomb" of Hebei Provincial History Museum in Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China (PRC).
Archaeologists identified the inscription "Yangxinjia" on the palace lantern, and some scholars such as Zhou Changshan speculated that the palace lantern with a long heart was originally owned by Liu Jie, a Yangxin Houyi in Han Dynasty (before 179). According to historical records, Liu Jie's son Liu Zhongyi was deposed for participating in the "Seven Kingdoms Rebellion", and the state and family property were confiscated as state-owned and Changxin Palace Lantern. Therefore, the inscription "Changxin Palace" was added to show that the palace lanterns changed hands.
Dou Wan and Dou Yi are related. It is speculated that the Changxin Palace Lantern was given to Dou Wan by Dou Yi, so Dou Wan was buried in the tomb with her after her death. There is also the word "Long letter is still bathing" on the lamp, so it was named "Long letter palace lantern" after excavation. In addition, Zhao Huacheng and other scholars believe that according to the unearthed records of the "Yangxinjia" bronzes in the Han Dynasty, a large number of "Yangxinjia" bronzes, including Changxin Palace Lantern, belong to Pingyang princess royal, the sister of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, so it is uncertain which royal family Changxin Palace Lantern belongs to at the earliest.
structure
Palace lantern is a maid with a bun kneeling on the ground and holding a bronze lamp in her hand. The whole palace lantern is 48 cm high and weighs 15.85 kg. It consists of six parts: head, right arm, body, lampshade, lamp plate and lamp holder. The head and right arm are detachable, which is convenient for cleaning lamps. The lamp board of the palace lantern is divided into upper and lower parts, engraved with the words "Yangxinjia", which can rotate to adjust the direction of light. The arc-shaped tile copper plate embedded in the groove of the lamp plate can adjust the size of the light outlet, thus controlling the brightness of light. Right hand hanging sleeve cover copper lamp top. The bronze statue of the maid-in-waiting is hollow, in which the hollow right arm and sleeve form a bronze lampshade, which can be opened and closed freely.
The burning gas dust can be deposited in the maid-in-waiting through her right arm, and will not be dissipated to the surrounding environment in large quantities. There is a small amount of wax residue on the top of the lampshade, so it is speculated that the burning substance in the palace lantern is animal fat or candles. There are not many decorations and complicated patterns on the surface of palace lanterns, which are relatively simple in contemporary palace utensils.
There are nine inscriptions on the lamp, totaling 65 words, including the weight, capacity, casting time and owner of the lamp. Such as: "Long letter is still bathing, one liter is less than half a liter, weighing six pounds, 189" (located at the bottom of the lamp holder).
external
The maid-in-waiting stumbled in a bun and a thick coat. It consists of a head, a body, a right arm, a lamp holder, a lamp board, a lampshade and other parts. Each part can be disassembled, the lamp board can be rotated and the lampshade can be opened and closed. The arm of the maid-in-waiting is hollow, and the right arm is a flue. Lamp smoke can be introduced into the equipment to keep the room clean. There are nine inscriptions on the lamp, including its weight, capacity, casting time and owner. Because it is engraved with the words "long letter is still bathing", it is named long letter palace lantern.
Changxin Palace Lantern was unearthed in the tomb of Dou Wan, the wife of Liu Sheng, Zhongshan King in the Western Han Dynasty in Mancheng, with a height of 48 cm. The image of the lamp is a young maid-in-waiting kneeling with a lamp, covered in gold. The maid-in-waiting wears a bun on her head, a headscarf, a long skirt and wide sleeves. Her face is dignified and delicate, her eyes are very focused, her head leans forward slightly, and her expression is respectful and cautious, showing the unique expression of young ladies in the lower class. The maid-in-waiting holds the lamp tray in her left hand, her right arm is raised, and her cuffs droop into a lampshade. The lamp board can rotate to push the two arc screens on the lamp board to open and close, so as to adjust the brightness and irradiation direction of light. The maid-in-waiting is hollow, and the oil fume enters the body through her right arm to keep the room clean. All parts of the lamp can also be disassembled, which is beneficial to cleaning. This lamp is engraved with 65 words such as "Chang Xin Shang Yu", so it is named "Chang Xin Gong Deng". Changxin official lamp organically combines the practical function of the lamp, the scientific principle of air purification and the beautiful shape. The overall shape is natural and beautiful, elastic, light and gorgeous, and it is a practical and beautiful lamp treasure.
According to textual research of inscriptions, this lamp was cast in BC 172 (Wendi era). The original owner of the lamp is Yang Jie. Later, Liu Jie's son means "the country is guilty", and the lamp was charged into the "wife" (official name) of Shaofu, which belongs to Changxin Palace. Changxin Palace is the palace where Empress Dowager Cixi lives in the letter. Dou Taihou of Wendi is her grandmother, and Jingdi is the empress dowager, with great power. Later, Dou Taihou gave the lamp to a woman named Dou Wan, who was a member of her family. Dou Wan regarded the bronze lamp as a treasure and was buried with her after her death.
related data
Changxin Palace Lantern was unearthed in the tomb of Liu Sheng, the king of Zhongjing, Han Dynasty, together with the golden wisp of jade clothes. According to textual research, Changxin Palace is the palace where Empress Dowager Dou Shi (the mother of Zhai Jing and the grandmother of Liu Sheng) lived. This lantern was originally a palace article, which was given to her beloved grandson by Dou Shi.
1973 The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China issued the stamp "Long Letter Palace Lantern" (series 73, denomination 8:1973:1.20). In June of 5438+October of 2000/kloc-0, the State General Post Bureau issued a set of four unearthed cultural relics stamps (February of 20001,with a face value of 80 cents, and the issuing date was June of 5438+October 20th of 2000/kloc-0). Pictures and introductions of "Jin Si Yu Yi" and "Chang Xin Gong Deng" unearthed from Han Tombs in Mancheng are included in the ancient history part of junior middle school history textbooks.
Changxin Palace Lantern is now in the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics. Palace lantern is a unique handicraft in China, which is famous for its complex technology, excellent workmanship and elegant shape. According to legend, during the Southern Dynasties in Liang Wudi, China had the custom of hanging lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first month, which gradually spread from the folk to the court. In the Tang dynasty, palace lanterns gradually formed, and in the Ming and Qing dynasties, they developed to the extreme and became special products for the royal family.
Tiger ox gift box is a bronze ware with strong local characteristics unearthed from the tombs of ancient Yunnan. The case is bull-shaped, with a rim on the back, forming a disk, which is convenient for placing sacrifices. In order to keep the stability of the vessel, a tiger was designed at the oxtail. There is a calf under the cow's belly, and it is interesting to live. Cows and tigers are common themes in Yunnan bronze culture, so containers have strong local characteristics.