Jian Drum Representations On Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs

Stone reliefs are one of the most representative forms of Han dynasty figurative arts. Characterized by the use of linear etching, these reliefs were carved on stone walls, coffins or on burial chambers, and were later employed as adornment of ancestral halls. Han stone reliefs achieved large diffusion and a great wealth of very ancient examples remains extant. One of the most common images depicted in such reliefs is that of the Jian drum (建鼓)According to historical records, during the Shang dynasty the Jian drum had already developed its main structure with a standing pole supporting the drum and was mainly used in ceremonial settings or in musical performances. The Jian drum is the subject of this dissertation. Based on both literary sources and relics, this study provides a systematic review, classification and description of the iconographic material related to the Jian drum. In the course of this study some questions are also given particular consideration:was the central pole (ying楹)sufficiently high to allow the performer to play the drum on a standing position or could it only be played while sitting? In which period did the mythical flying bird which adorns the top of the drum appear? Did a so-called "Jian drum dance" really exist? What is the meaning of the frequent disposition of the Jian drum at the center of the pictures and of the other images surrounding it? This dissertation draws on some major conceptual tools from the psychology of pictorial representation and semiotics in order to provide an in depth analysis of these problems and attempt an interpretation of the symbolism embedded in this type of iconography.