The Study Of "The Six Domestic Animals" Images In Wei-jin Tombs Of Hexi Area

"The six domestic animals"(its usually be cited as an assemblage of ox,chicken,horse,dog,sheep and pig)has been closely related to human life since ancient China.A large number of mural titles contains the image of "the six domestic animals" found in Weijin tombs of Hexi area have displayed us a scene of social life which was 1,700 years ago.The content and theme of mural titles were various and derived from reality:YiChuan(horses delivering military commands),chariot battalion,settlement,travel,hunting,dock wall cart,calves,carriage,kitchen,guards,chip,tillage sowing,plough and harrow,etc.During Weijin period,the relatively remote geographical location of Hexi promoted the great ethnic integration while endless warfare was happening in the central plains.the internal migration caused by inherent residents and adjacent ethnic groups has brought sophisticated productivity and technology stimulated the development of native politics,economy and culture directly.A certain number of burial pottery figurines with livestock themes excavated from Weijin tombs of Hexi,and the image of "the six domestic animals" among them was vivid and had a strong flavor of life.The tall and robust terracotta horses are powerful and curved vividly,depicting the dynamic effect of galloping horses;the four legged terracotta cattle with strong physique and clumsy modeling,expressing the characteristics of honest,simple and hard-working of ox;the flat terracotta chickens,different shapes depend upon cocks or hens,are full of energy;the faithful terracotta dogs,squatting or lying,representing its alert and smart.The auspicious animals and myths were portrayed in the burials of Hexi area during Weijin period all implied the symbol of life,death and palingenesis.Fairy elements including magic beast and half-human beast were the embodiment of superstitious thoughts in terms of the correlation between human and universe.The surreal depictions of deific livestock,fairy-horse and divine sheep for example,demonstrated the merging process of primitive cultural ingredients and civilization of Chinese nation and its influence on human thoughts in real life."The six domestic animals" found in Wei-jin tombs of Hexi area were tightly concerned with the social life.It reflects the travel and diet of people in Hexi regionduring the Wei-jin period.As well as burial ideology like the concepts of divine worship,immortal came after death and the discipline of treating the decease like the living at certain level.In the Wei-jin period,the serious grade difference is vividly reflected in the image of "the six domestic animals".The figure of "the six domestic animals" also suggested the communication and integration between nomadic culture and farming culture,which is helpful to have a comprehensive understanding of cultural features within Hexi region during the Wei-jin period.