half of the 5,-year history of Chinese civilization was cast by bronzes with bright feathers. Judging from the earliest bronzes that appeared before 2 BC, represented by Erlitou culture in the Central Plains of the Yellow River Basin (that is, the eastern suburb of Luoyang, the ancient capital of the 13th Dynasty) and Qijia culture in its upper reaches, it has a history of more than 4, years, and has become a bronze age that lasted for more than 2, years, occupying an important position in the history of Chinese civilization. In the early bronze age, it was the Neolithic Age, and only pottery products were scattered, but in the late bronze age, it was replaced by porcelain and iron products. Therefore, in the long history of bronzes for more than 2, years, its products are colorful and its craftsmanship is brilliant. There are all kinds of bronze dings as symbols of power, as well as all kinds of court ritual vessels, sacrificial vessels, wine vessels, containers, daily necessities, furnishings and handicrafts, such as statues, pots, cups, jars, bells, lamps and stoves, and their shapes are also spread all over dragons, tigers, cows, horses, sheep, deer and so on. From daily necessities to musical instruments, from ornaments to war weapons. It can be said that moderns, with its starry sky and numerous varieties, has fully recorded the history of Chinese civilization, and it is also the evidence that the royal family, court, waiting door and earl of all previous dynasties were luxuriously and brilliantly furnished before their death, pursued immortality after their death, and were buried with them expensively and richly.
All the ancient civilizations in the world have experienced the Bronze Age, and only ancient China endowed bronzes with important social significance, profound spiritual connotation and highly perfect artistic forms. The achievements of ancient bronze art in China were mainly embodied in the Xia, Shang and Wednesday dynasties, which lasted for more than 2, years. Since modern times, a large number of bronzes have been unearthed, which has gradually made the ancient history of China, which has been hazy for a long time, clear.
China entered the class society from the Xia Dynasty, and the bronze manufacturing industry, which symbolizes the political power, military power and theocracy of the country, was completely monopolized by the nobles. The manufacture of these bronzes was based on the will, needs and aesthetic wishes of the nobles. After more than 2 centuries of development and evolution, Chinese bronzes can be divided into the following periods:
development period
time division
initial period
Xia dynasty
Shang dynasty style prevailing period
from the time when Shang dynasty moved its capital to Yin (now Anyang, Henan province) to the early Western Zhou Dynasty, which is about the period from Wu Ding, the Shang king, to the western Zhou Muwang.
mature period of western Zhou style
late western Zhou dynasty to early spring and autumn period
popular period of eastern Zhou dynasty
middle spring and autumn period to warring States period
The tripod in bronze ware was originally a very common cooking utensil in ancient times, but its practical significance gradually weakened and it became a symbol of power. The legend of Xia Zhu Jiuding shows the important position of bronzes in the minds of the ancients. The event of "Winning the Central Plains" in the Spring and Autumn Period is a continuation of this concept. Now, the largest bronze ware in ancient China, Simu Wuding in Shang Dynasty, can make us feel the spiritual shock of the tripod.