PULP@CISHK
BRONZE& IRON
铜铁
器
[Bronze and Iron Artifacts]
China began using metals in the late Neolithic period, with bronze artifacts appearing during the late Xia Dynasty (Erlitou culture). The Shang and Zhou Dynasties were the peak of bronze production in China, highlighted by the Houmuwu Cauldron, the earliest known and largest bronze vessel in the world. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, iron tools became widely used. By the late Warring States period, iron tools were integrated into many aspects of social production and daily life. Iron farming tools increasinglyreplaced wooden, stone, bone, shell, and bronze implements, establishing a dominant position.
The collection of bronze and iron artifacts at the Jilin Manchu Museum mainly includes items allocated by the government, private donations, and acquisitions from the Liao, Jin, Qing, and Republic periods. These include tools for production and daily life such as iron sickles, iron shovels, iron pots, stirrups, iron knives, copper mirrors, and copper braziers.
[Iron Agricultural Tools of the Jin Dynasty]
The Jin Dynasty was established by the Jurchen people, an ancient ethnic group living between the Songhua and Heilong Rivers in northern China. Over its more than one hundred years of history, The Jin Dynasty coexisted with the Southern Song Dynasty, drawing influence from its advanced agricultural economy. A developed agricultural economy was the backbone of the Jin's survival. After the mid-10th century, the Jurchen people rapidly developed, with the northern Wanyan tribe settling along the Hu River and beginning to "cultivate and plant trees." Influenced by the more advanced agricultural economy of the Song Dynasty and the importance of agriculture in the national economy, Jin rulers increasingly emphasized agricultural development. In the early Jin, during campaigns against the Liao, they viewed the "farming tools" abandoned by the Liao army as significant war trophies to be distributed among the Meng'an and Muke Jurchens. The widespread use of iron agricultural tools was a key factor for the rapid development of agriculture during the Jin Dynasty.
Gold, Length: 27.1 cm, Width: 12.4 cm.
The hoe head is star-shaped, with a square cross-section and a round collar. The iron handle is flat and secured to the hoe blade with two iron nails, while the other end is pointed for fitting into a wooden handle.
Gold, Length: 24.4 cm,
Width: 6.5 cm, Thickness: 5 cm.
The pickaxe is slightly long, with a narrow waist and a half-circle socket for attaching a wooden handle.
Material: Gold, Length: 24.9 cm, Width: 9.9 cm, Thickness: 0.4 cm.
The iron sickle has a slightly curved back and a gently inward-curved blade. The blade is wide, and the handle is flat and narrow.
Material: Gold, Length: 33.7 cm, Width: 17.3 cm, Thickness: 4.5 cm.
The iron shovel is slightly rectangular with a round socket.
The knife is shaped like a fish, wider at the front and narrower at the back. The back is curved, and the blade is flat. The front looks like a fish's mouth, with a round hole below that resembles a fish eye, used for securing the knife nail. The upper part of the hole has an iron hook like fish whiskers. The handle is hollow, resembling a fish tail. This unique design represents strong ethnic features and is a typical agricultural tool from the Jin Dynasty.
The fish-shaped iron knife from the Jin Dynasty is made of gold, measuring 72.3 cm long and 17 cm wide.
Six-handle iron pot, Jin Dynasty, 33.2 cm diameter, 29.1cm radiums, 23.5 cm tall.
Jin Dynasty Iron Axe, Jin Dynasty,
15.3cm long, 5.5cm wide, 4.6cm thick.
The iron ax was forged, its blade slightly bunched, wedge shaped sideways, it's butt more rectangular, and impacting can create an obvious downwards heap. A rectangular sharp blade extends vertically out the eye of the axe.
The gacuha are animal carpal bones They were originally used for divination and were the first tools used by the Manchu people to calculate prey.
As early as the Jin Dynasty, the nobility of the Jurchen people have used gacuha as toys. Passing on to modern times, the three gameplays - spill, flick, pop - have become iconic Manchu games.
During the Liao-Jin period, gacuha miniatures made of bronze, iron, lead, white jade, crystal, and agate appeared. The majority of them have holes in the middle so they could be carried around easily, and be worn for many years for prosperity and luck.
Iron gacuha, Jin Dynasty, 2.9 cm long, 2.05cm wide, 1.9 cm tall.
Stirrups are footpaths hung on both sides of the saddle, for riders to use when getting on the horse and riding. The function of stirrups is not only to help people get on the horse, but more importantly to support the rider's feet when riding, so as to maximize the advantages of riding, while effectively protecting the rider's safety. The Chinese horse mirror with a well-documented history is from the Northern Wei Dynasty. The stirrup is a hanging stirrup with a long straight handle wrapped in copper. Later, this stirrup spread eastward through Goguryeo, spread to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and then narrow pedal metal stirrups appeared and spread widely on the Asian steppes.
Dragon head stirrup, Qing Dynasty, iron, 16.2cm high and 10.5cm wide.
The blade is made of steel, engraved with seven stars, and the snow blade is sharp and slightly curved. The scabbard is made of shark skin, and the scabbard head and tail ornaments and hoop are copper-plated with gold-plated carved twined branches. The handle is made of iron, with shark skin on the outside, copper disc hand guard, and the end of the handle is decorated with copper-plated money and twined branches.
The waist knife is a cold weapon with a unique design, solemn shape, beautiful patterns, and fine workmanship. It adopts the traditional style and method of ancient Chinese knives and swords. This waist knife is used for collection and appreciation.
Shark skin sheath seven-star waist knife, Republic of China period, 93cm long, 9em wide, 2.5cm thick.
This bronze waterfowl is shaped like a duck. Made of bronze, it has a thick and heavy body. The duck is plump, with a raised neck, prominent round eyes, webbed feet firmly planted on the ground, and folded wings. The body is covered with scale-like feathers, with a frog pattern engraved on the back and a snake pattern coiled on each wing. This piece is vividly sculpted, featuring intricate designs and fine craftsmanship. It is lifelike and was used during Emperor Qianlong's 19th year (1754) when he visited the Eight Banners Naval Forces in Jilin to conduct a sacrificial ceremony for the Songhua River deity. It is classified as a national first-class cultural relic.
The Songhua River, called "Songari Ula" in Manchu, translates to "Heavenly River" in Chinese. Originating from the Tianchi in Changbai Mountain, the river meanders through Jilin City like a blue ribbon. The ancestors of the Manchu people, the Sumo Mohe, lived along the banks of the Songhua River and honored it as their mother river. During the reigns of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong, both monarchs conducted eastern tours to Jilin, where they not only worshipped the deity of Changbai Mountain but also paid homage to the Songhua River deity. Sacrificing to the river was as important to the Qing dynasty as ancestral worship.
Qing Dynasty, Length: 23cm, Width: 14cm, Height: 26cm
Tangpozi is a flat round pot made of copper, with a small opening on the top and a lid. It has plum blossom patterns all over. The front of the pot has the word "Fu" and the back has the representative poem "Spring Dawn" by the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Haoran. The bottom has the seal characters "Guangxu Zhibao".
Tangpozi is also called "Tin Madam", "Tang Lao (ǎo)", "Jiao Po" and "Tin Slave". According to the historical material "Qing Bai Lei Chao", "Copper and tin flat bottles are filled with boiling water and placed in the quilt to warm the feet. This has existed since the Song Dynasty.
Tangpozi is a flat round pot made of copper, tin, ceramic and other materials. It is generally pumpkin-shaped with a small opening on the top and a lid to prevent leakage. After the "Tangpozi" is filled with water, the nut is screwed on and then stuffed into a cloth bag of similar size and placed in the quilt, so that it will be very warm when sleeping at night. "Tang" refers to boiling water in ancient Chinese; "Pozi" refers to its function of accompanying people to sleep.
Bronze hot pot with plum blossom pattern and the word "Fu", Qing Dynasty, diameter 12.9cm, height 7.7cm; lid diameter 2.85cm, height 0.9cm.
It is made of bronze, with a wide mouth-rim, slender neck form, matching handles, and circular foot rim, oval shape . The vase features curved patterns of flowers and birds , and its base is signed with “Made in the Xuande period of Ming Dynasty”.
This vase originates from the Ming Dynasty , has a mouth-rim diameter of 9.1cm, a body diameter of 14.9cm, a base diameter of 7.8cm, and an overall height of 32.5cm.
This brazier features a flat rim with four divine beasts lying on the corners, facing each other in pairs. It has a round mouth, straight belly, flat bottom with a slight concavity, and rests on three legs.
In winter, braziers like this one were placed in palace halls or courtyards for burning coal to provide warmth. Among the Manchu people of the northeast, such braziers were also used to preserve fire. According to the text The Customs and Myths of Manchu Fire Worship, it was recorded:
"The Manchu people of Ula Street in Jilin once had a custom of welcoming the fire deity. They burned sacred fire to expel evil spirits, cleanse homes, and pray for a prosperous year. Each household's head would retrieve coal from the courtyard brazier, bury it in their brazier, and keep it burning year-round, a practice called 'eternal flame.' Women were required to add fuel daily to keep the fire alive. Spitting into the brazier was strictly forbidden. These customs are remnants of the ancient ancestors' reverence for preserving fire."
In addition to preserving fire, burying coals in the brazier also reflected the Manchu people's worship of fire. Braziers were made of either iron or copper, with wealthier families opting for bronze versions. In the palace, braziers were typically made of cloisonné enamel or copper. When a daughter was married, her family would often send her off with an iron or copper brazier, though most families used clay braziers. Braziers were placed next to the kang (a heated brick bed) or on a stool or bench in front of the kang. Elderly people could rest against the wall or lie on their side while using the brazier to light their pipes and dispose of ash, thus reducing the risk of fire hazards.
Qing Dynasty, Diameter: 48cm, Height: 12.2cm
The shape of the Jue cup is graceful, with a round bottom, a flow channel, tail, and two mushroom-shaped cylinders. It has one handle that is forged into a dragon’s head. Engravings of the “回“ pattern spread along the cup’s belly. Inscriptions are carved along the three legs.
Jue is a type of wine flask and ritual object. It was popular during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Typically, it has a round or a rectangular belly. There is a flow channel (for pouring wine) at the front of one side of its mouth, and the back has a pointed tail. There are cylinders between the flow channel and the mouth. There is usually a handle on the side of the cup, and three cylindrical legs underneath. Jue made from the Xia dynasty are thin and are produced roughly; the vessel itself is oval, the flow channel long and thin, the tail is short, and there are commonly no cylinders between the flow channel and the mouth. The bottom of the Jue is usually flat, and has no inscriptions or patterns engraved upon, though occasionally one may see bead patterns (连珠纹). Cylinders between the flow channel and the mouth started appearing at the start of Shang dynasty. The belly of the Jue is empty, and some surfaces have round holes drilled in so air may flow when wine is warmed. In the midst of the Shang dynasty, the body of the Jue became round, the flow channel was heightened, and one to two cylinders now appear between it and the mouth.
The cylinder itself is longer and moved back. The three legs are thick, sturdy, and angular. The Jue itself has thickened. During the late Shang dynasty to early West Zhou Dynasty, Jue has become thick, heavy, and intricately made. Patterns of Taotiè 饕餮 (a mystical beast), stormy clouds, banana leaves decorate the Jue. Upper parts and cylinders have also been shaped into animals. Countless cylinder-less, lidded Jue have appeared, the lid often forged into animal heads. In the early West Zhou Dynasty, there were also Jue with winged edges forged onto them, generally in the shape of stormy clouds, with two or three layers of complicated and delicate patterns. As the West Zhou Dynasty came to an end, so did the appearance of Jue.
Made in the Republic era, with length of 8.4cm,
width of 5.2cm, and height of 11.15cm.
The plaque is copper and gilded gold, with a slight oval shape. The top has a gilded hoop, and the body has hollow patterns of lotus leaves and lotus flower patterns, The bottom is engraved with water ripples, and the center is carved with a bow. Below it shows inscriptions, in the center “花悦净春禅定尼“ (Pure flowers and clear spring, Buddhist nun). On the right side “宽文四年” (Fourth year of Kunbun), the left side ”辰正月八日” (Morning, eight day of the first lunar month). And below “山城饭冈村阿弥陀寺庄誉代” (Honored by Shan city, Fangang village, Amituo temple).
This collection was the reincarnation plaque used by a Japanese Buddhist nun as they passed away. The plaque is engraved with the time of the nun’s death: Fourth year of Kunbun (1664), which was The third year of Emperor Kangxi's reign. Morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month was that of the Year of the Dragon. According to written records, Japan had started using the Chinese Lunar calendar since the late 7th century AD. Until 1685, when the Japanese themselves started creating their own Jōkyō calendar.
According to historical documents and Japanese archaeology discoveries, Chinese characters have been spread to Japan’s Kyushu, Fukuoka areas from Liaodong and Korea as early as 1st century BC. Fonts of Xiao Zhuan (篆), and Li Shu (隶书) have made it to Japan by being carved on copper mirrors. These characters, just like the other patterns on copper mirrors, symbolize solemness, sacredness, auspiciousness in the eyes of the Japanese.
“禅定尼” (Chándìng ní) is a Japanese Buddhism terminology. Men who are converted to Buddhism, have shaved his head and dyed his clothes, is called “禅定门” (Chándìng mén), while women are called “禅定尼”. It is also used to address dharma names of the dead, specifically for females. In Japan, the emperor who shaved his head and is converted to Buddhism was called the Zendeng Dharma Emperor. The officials and the chancellor who shaved their heads were called Zendeng Highness or Zenkoku
Made in the Qing dynasty, 27.2 cm long, 26.2 cm wide,
and 0.8 cm thick.
A copper brazier with a round mouth, deep bucket and a flashing edge, and a lion head and three legs
Qing Dynasty, diameter 46cm, height 18.4cm. The brazier has a folded edge, round mouth, straight belly, flat bottom, and three lion heads.
Qing Dynasty, diameter 47.3cm, height 15.8cm, bucket depth 10.5cm, edge width 7.2cm. The brazier has a folded edge, round mouth, straight belly, deep bucket, flat bottom, and three lion heads.
The scabbard is made of wood, with green shark skin on the outside. The head and tail ornaments are made of copper, the hilt is made of wood, and the end of the hilt is also made of copper. The sword body is made of steel, with seven stars engraved.
The scabbard is made of tortoiseshell, and both the head and tail ornaments are copper gilt with auspicious carved patterns. The middle part features a copper gilt sword guard with a chiseled dragon, "Dragon Quan," and intertwining patterns. The handle is made of shark skin, and the sword scabbard and pommel are also copper gilt. The sword body is made of steel with cloud patterns. This sword is finely crafted, beautifully decorated, with a sharp blade, and was a ceremonial sword of the Qing Imperial Family.
Shark Skin Sheath Seven Star Sword, Qing Dynasty, total length 92.3cm, width 7.05cm, thickness 1.9cm.
Dagger-axe with Dragon Quan Sword, Qing Dynasty,
total length 54.2cm, width 2.9cm, thickness 2.9cm.