The Design Research On Lacquerware In Han Tombs At Mawangdui

The Han tombs at Mawangdui is located at the eastern suburb of Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province. The owners of the tombs are the Chancellor of Changsha Kingdom in the early Western Han Dynasty, the Marquis of Dai, Li Cang and his family. The quantity of the lacquerware unearthed from the Han tombs at Mawangdui accounts for more than 20% of all the cultural relics unearthed from the three Tombs. What more, the lacquered vessels are full of variety. They look quiet new, have delicacy crafts and are decorated gorgeously. They are the treasures of traditional Chinese artifact arts. The earlier literature about the lacquered vessels of Mawangdui Tombs mainly focused on the history, ceremonial regulations, folk-custom, arts and crafts, decoration or artistic features. There is not much systematic research from the aspect of design. The systematic conclusion is also lacked to the design characters and spirit connotations of these lacquered vessels.The point of view of this research is set to the design characters of ancient artifacts and spirit connotations, to show the relationship between the artifacts and the certain society and cultures. The systematic research method is used in this paper. The lacquerware of Mawangdui Tombs are taken as main research object. The research is developed according to the thought of from the appearance to the connotations, and the combination of literature and image resources.Firstly, the related knowledge about Mawangdui Tombs and the primary cultural relics including the lacquerware is introduced briefly. Secondly, four aspects of external circumstances are discussed. They are the user of the lacquerware of Mawangdui Tombs, the political status of early West Han Dynasty, the status of economic development and the level of science and technology of early West Han Dynasty, and the status of mentality and culture. The discussing is cataloged by the using purpose of the lacquerware: for dietetical using, for washing, toilet sets, containers, furniture, for entertainment and for funeral. Based on that, a thorough research is emphasized to the design skills and demiurgic ideas. The features of beauty of good idea, beauty of functions, beauty of form, beauty of materials, beauty of colors, beauty of craftsmanship and beauty of decorations are put forward. The connotative ideas of whole, combination, sedation, practicality, "contain the Tao in the vessel" and humanism design are also pointed out. According to those features and ideas, some of the characters of the daily life and culture of the upper-class of Changsha kingdom in early West Han Dynasty and the entire early Han Dynasty society reflected by the lacquered vessels are summarized. These characters involved with every aspects about life. Last, by comparison of the lacquerware of Mawangdui Tombs andmodern design, many characters are found in common, which is shown that to use the traditional design idea and culture connotation as reference to modern designs has its feasibility and significance of reality.