Research On Pagoda Shaped Jars Of Tang Dynasty

Pagoda shaped jars, that the quantity is multitudinous, the characteristic is clear and the change has the foreword and excavated in the earlier and later Tang Dynasty grave, is one of the sign utensils. It's meaningful to understand its historical development process, connotation of thought and culture, social effect, symbolic meaning for dating Tang Dynasty grave in North China and deeply knowing about People's buries notion, buries custom and religion belief.The thesis preliminarily rearranges Pagoda shaped jars excavated in Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Ningxia since liberation of China. On the foundation of predecessor's research, taking excavated utensils as basic datum, using archaeology typology theory and methods, based on characteristic of utensils and combination of funerary objects, grave patter, etc., and in combination with practical geographical environment and regionalism, Pagoda shaped jars in Tang Dynasty grave have been sorted three regions like Yuxi and Guangzhong region, Hebei and Jinbei region and Wuzhong in Ningxia region and four stages like earlier stage of Tang Dynasty, glorious stage of Tang Dynasty, middle stage of Tang Dynasty and later stage of Tang Dynasty were arranged according to chronological order.Characteristics of Pagoda shaped jars and development process in three regions were induced as follows: some Pagoda shaped jars whose button shape, like circular cone, bamboo node and peach is popular at that time. At the beginning of Pagoda shaped jars born that time, the lid looks like a small dish, button of the lids is high in height and looks like a circular cone in shape generally. Temple imitation of the lid is vivid, its shoulder is bulged, abdomen part is full and bottom of the lid is connected firmly with foot base together and with the same particular feature as the funerary objects earlier time in Tang Dynasty. Its shape is simple with the thick and short and straight base-wall like a horn. Pagoda shaped jars whose jars, lid and base is made respectively, the body become higher and the largest abdomen diameter is at the place of 2/3 of the body, the mouth is become small and the base become thinner and higher and become popular utensils after the second stage. The decoration of Pagoda shaped jars is magnificent, sculpting is plump, pattern is rounded, color is much fresh and with particular feature to glorious Tang Dynasty. The proportion of Pagoda shaped jars is harmonious, it is tall and exquisite, type is various and full of many art. The third stage is the beginning when Pagoda shaped jars become declining, Pagoda shaped jars become short, its body become longer, bottom of its abdomen restrain obviously, the largest abdomen diameter is still on the top of the body, base is short, the proportion of the abdomen is not more harmonious than Pagoda shaped jars at earlier stage. In all, pattern of the Pagoda shaped jars in earlier stage in Yuxi and Guanzhong region is not more magnificent than earlier stage, and the sculpting style tends to simple. In the earlier period of fourth stage, shoulder of Pagoda shaped jars is slippery, the largest abdomen diameter is still on the top of the jars's body, base is short, base diameter below the body is a little larger and most of them are larger than or equal to the jars's largest abdomen diameter, the jars, lid and base is made respectively and with the same particular feature as the funerary objects later in Tang Dynasty. In later stage in Hebei and Jinbei region, Pagoda shaped jars with gourd-like and bead-like button is very popular. Jars's bottom of the abdomen restrain obviously, some have the tray and look very complex, some look like a basin, some are the combination of the horn, some are slim on the top and round and having bulge, some are spacious like a capsized basin, whether in work art, utensils sculpting or elaborate design, they have all kinds of different style and deep nation culture characteristic. The body of Pagoda shaped jars in Ningxia region most are bulging on the top and restraining on the bottom, the abdomen of jarss are all decorated with animal face and with local characteristics. Some other questions were also explored in the thesis, including Pagoda shaped jars's veins, historical origin, emerging background, use, declining reasons and so on. More over, historical culture, religions belief, mortuary custom were explored and concluded as well.