Study On Bronze Knives Of Pre-Qin Period In North China

Bronze knives of Pre-Qin period in North China are most interesting small bronzes.What makes them differ from the others quite generally,is the fact of a greater diversity in shapes and ornamentation.The aim of this dissertation is to establish their typology and chronology.The material we used is the excavated knives in North China not including the collections.There are seven chapters in this dissertation.Chapter one:We review the history of the researches on the bronze knives,and fix the scope of the era and space which limits to the Pre-Qin period and North China.And also we present the methods of type dividing and the target of our researches.Chapter two:Researches on the bronze knives of Xia dynasty.We argue that the bronze knife appeared in the Gan-Qing area at first and then developed speedily to other places.It has a special influence on both Central Plains and other northern areas.The bronze knives of Central Plains emerged later then that of the Northwest.However,it had formed its own style no long after its first appearance in this area.At least,the Central Plains System and Northern System had appeared in the late Xia dynasty.And it took a profound and lasting influence to the later ages.Chapter three:Researches on the bronze knives of Shang dynasty.The bronze knives of both Central Plains System and Northern System of this period developed to the highest level.Not only the quantities but also the types of the bronze knife are abundant.From it we can learn that the foundry industry of the Shang dynasty is glorious.In this period,there emerged special bronze knife used only in the ritual activities.Meanwhile,the bronze knives as tools were widely used in the society.The bronze knives of Northern system were of the best quality,and also had lots of types.It gave some influence to the development of the bronze knives of Central Plains System.Chapter four:Researches on the bronze knives of the Western Zhou and the early Spring and Autumn Period.In this period,there were some changes in the development of the bronze knives,and the style of Zhou dynasty had formed.The types of the bronze knives of the middle and late Zhou dynasty decreased very much,and we argue that the tradition of it were transforming to a new phrase.In the early Spring and Autumn Period,the bronze knives developed to a new highest level.It conducted mainly in the Upper Xiajiadian Culture.There are many different types of bronze knives comparing to other cultures.And it represents the highest level of the period.Chapter five:Researches on the bronze knives of the period from the middle Spring and Autumn Period to late Warring States.In this period,the bronze knives unified from different types.In northern areas,the nomadic people lived in a large scope of space and usually moved from one place to another.That is why there are commonplace in character identified from the groups of bronzes.In the Central Plains,because of wars and business trades, people mix together to a great extent.From the bronze knives we can see the changes.Just then,Qin Empire founded.With the arrival of the Iron Age, the bronze knife went to the end together with other bronzes.Chapter six:Discussing the function of the bronze knives,and also the origin and changes of them.We divide it into three kinds which are sacrificial knives,weapons and tools.Meanwhile,we identify the Luan Dao knife(鸾刀)recorded by the historical documents and correct the wrong viewpoints about it.And also,we argue that the Liu knife(刘)recorded by the historical documents is the knife which has long body and curl blade which are popular in the Shang dynasty and early Western Zhou dynasty.Chapter seven:sums up the entire dissertation,points out the achievement and also shortcomings need more researches.