A Preliminary Study Of Changsha Kiln Lamps And Lanterns

Ancient lamps as one of the ancient people’s daily necessities attached many information about ancient material and spiritual life. In previous archaeological excavations in Changsha kiln, a variety of lamps were excavated. Over eighty sets of Changsha kiln’s lamps were collected, which can be classified under the method of the archaeological typology method and be used to analyze the characteristics of their shape and decoration. Due to the commercial attributes of Changsha kiln, its products had less official restrictions in the shape and decoration. Consequently, they were more tended to be market-driven and free style. Because Changsha kiln’s lamps had various kinds of shapes and decorations and satisfied the market needs, Changsha kiln’s lamps were widely used in the Tang Dynasty and exerted a significant effect on the people’s life.Combining the real objects and the literature from Tang Dynasty, it is found that Changsha kiln’s lamps were not only used in the daily life, but also used in other situations such as wedding, funeral, festivals and religious ritual. As a porcelain exported kiln, Changsha kiln’s lamps with other products were exported to overseas. Iben, an Arabia geographer in the10th century, put in his book that Chinese silk, China and Chinese lamps are well-known brands. It proves that Changsha kiln’s lamps as a part of Tang Dynasty lamps had a profound effect on the Ancient Western Regions.