Research On The Zoomrophic Motifs Of Bronzeware Of The Eastern Zhou Dynasty

The zoomorphic motifs,as a major branch of plastic arts,have considerable variation and differentiation.The zoomorphic motifs,as well as the bronzewares they attached to,embody both attributes of matter and consciousness.This research on the zoomorphic motifs is of great significance to study the Eastern Zhou Dynasty's transformation from vassal state to empire.Based on regional systems and cultural types of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty,the paper investigates the zoomorphic motifs of the States of Jin,Chu,Qi,Lu,Yan,Xu,Wu,Yue,Ba,and Shu.The paper summaries the characteristics of the zoomorphic motifs in different regional systems,according to the typology studies of the major varieties of animals: the dragon,Phoenix,and tiger.The comprehensive study focuses on a series of motifs and their stages of evolvement: the dragon,phoenix,tiger,buffalo,beast and snake,human and snake,god and spirits.The paper then discusses the exchanges and interactions between the States revealed by the zoomorphic motifs.In the early Spring and Autumn Period,the zoomorphic motifs in the States of Jin,Chu,Qi,and Lu shared extensive similarities,especially highlighted by the dragon motifs.In the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period,the State of Jin witnessed the emerging of motifs like the winged lion,Phoenix with dragon body,birds and beasts holding snakes in their mouths or under their feet.Motifs demonstrating dragons with beast body emerged in the State of Chu.The zoomorphic motifs of the States of Jin and Chu had a great influence on surrounding areas.In the late Spring and Autumn Period,the zoomorphic motifs had a major transformation,featured in the increasing of realism styles.In the middle and late Warrior State Period,the dragon motifs in all regional systems and cultural types moved toward greater convergence.Throughout the Eastern Zhou Dynasty,different regional systems and cultural types had been sharing some common motifs as artistic style.The unified artistic styles were associated with unified culture identification.Both the similarities of means of artistic expression and the implied ideas and beliefs contributed to the unification in politics.