A Study On The Cicada Patterns On Bronzes Of Shang And Zhou Dynasties

The pattern study is seldom involved in the study of bronzes in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.Most of the patterns on bronzes were designed from tales, like Taotie, dragon, phoenix and so on.However, the cicada pattern came from the realistic materiel, which offers more space to do deeper research on bronzes.This paper will focus on the cicada patterns on the bronzes in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. This will be treated with categorising the cicada patterns by archaeological typology. According to the study of the ontic cicada patterns on bronzes, I will trace the origin of it, then, to explore the meaning of it.Numerous connotations are given to the cicada patterns on bronzes in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. In the final analysis, it was one of the tools for government to control their country. The administration in these dynasties was combine the rule by human beings and rule by deities together. and the bronzes were regarded as the tool that deliver messages between human and deities, and the cicada pattern is the assistant of witches and wizards. The kings in the Shang Dynasty administrated their state with the help of the animal patterns on the bronzes which played an extraordinary power. As the tool of theocracy, they greatly strengthened the foundation of state.This paper will divided into four parts- the outline and study review of cicada pattern, the classification and origin analysis of cicada pattern, the connotation of cicada pattern, and conclusion.