A Study On The Formation Of Bronze Vessels In Set During Zhou Dynasty In Zhongyuan Area

The bronze sacrificial utensils stand for rituals and the aristocrats of different ranks use bronze sacrificial utensils whose types, quantities, the sizes have the strict stipulation. The difference of the formation of bronze utensils in set used by aristocrats reflects the rank difference. Therefore, the research of the formation of bronze utensils in set during Zhou Dynasty and its evolution is very useful for us to realize the clan hierarchical system and Social changes during Zhou Dynasty. In addition, the research can provide the basis for the research of dividing copperware graves and copperwares into periods by stages This is the significance of selecting the topic for this article The article,firstly, collects widely copperware graves and the cellaring materials of the narrow Zhou Dynasty Culture scope during Zhou Dynasty in the Zhongyuan area,which is carried on the pectination by region and divided into periods by stages.Following is dividing aristocrats during Zhou Dynasty into five ranks on the basis of the tripod with two handles system which is deduced from related literature materials and bronze sacrificial vessel materials. Then,divides the bronze sacrificial vessel materials during Zhou Dynasty into four periods approximately according to the gradual characteristic of the tripod with two handles system, through the typical bronze sacrificial vessel material's analysis and the using of the bronze inscription materials. Finally, based on these, makes it clear approximately that the characteristic of the formation of bronze utensils in set which used in different times,the aristocrats of different ranks in Zhou Dynasty , through the parallelism, analysis and induction of the bronze sacrificial vessel materials in different times and different ranks. We also summarize the reason why the vessel combination characteristic formed in different times, combining with the history during Zhou Dynasty.Through the above analysis about the formation of bronze utensils in set during Zhou Dynasty,the main point of this article is as follows:First,the aristocrats during Zhou Dynasty are divided into five ranks on the basis of the five ranks of the tripod with two handles system which is tested by related literature materials and bronze sacrificial vessel materials.Second,the change process of the formation of bronze utensils in set during Zhou Dynasty can be divided into four periods,namely the early time of Western Zhou Dynasty, from the middle time of Western Zhou Dynasty (or the later of the early time of Western Zhou Dynasty)to the early time of Chun Qiu Dynasty, from the middle and later of Chun Qiu Dynasty to the early time of Zhan Guo Dynasty , the middle and later of Zhan Guo Dynasty, Dynasty, on the basis of the gradual characteristic which presents with the tripod with two handles system during Zhou Dynasty.Third,The Zhou Dynasty aristocrat's tripod with two handles system oversteps one's authority, firstly starting from the high-level aristocrat, and getting more and more common with the lapse of time; The time more early, the bronze sacrificial vessel combines useed by each rank aristocrats is more complete; The rank is higher, the formation of bronze utensils in set used in each time, is more complete. They concentratedly reflects the formation of bronze utensils in set during Zhou Dynasty taking the tripod with two handles gui as the core gradually disintegrates from early time to later, from top to bottom. This also consists with the change of the state of Zhou Dynasty rituals, and tallies with the change reality of Zhou Dynasty historical development.