Study On Eaves Tiles With Cloud Patterns And Animal Patterns Of Qin And Han Dynasties In Shaanxi Province

Eaves tile is only an accessory to architecture, but its utilitarian function and decorative function are irreplaceable. Moreover, eaves tile grain types were deeply related to ancient Chinese ideology and culture, which reflects the spirits and aesthetic pursuit of people in that time. The earliest known eaves tile was created in Western Zhou Dynasty, while its best was in Qin and Han Dynasties.The sites where the eaves tiles were unearthed are Shaanxi, Henan, Liaoning, Hebei and so on. But Shaanxi has the largest numbers, the richest grain types and the most representative eaves tiles. According to different grain patterns, eaves tiles may be divided into three types:patterned eaves tiles, painted eaves tiles, and literal eaves tiles. Therein, patterned eaves tiles and painted eaves tiles are represented by cloud patterns and animal patterns, respectively. This article studies on the eaves tiles with cloud patterns and animal patterns of Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province, by means of the method of document and on-site visits, collecting and working up the information of eaves tiles with cloud patterns and animal patterns in this province, and analyses the developing factors, categories, and aesthetic consciousness of that from an angel of art science.This paper is divided into five parts. The first part introduces the state of preservation, patterns types and developing factors of eaves tiles of Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi. The second part explains the categories of eaves tiles with cloud patterns, analyzing the differences and similarities between cloud patterns and other patterns. The third part states the categories of eaves tiles with animal patterns, and analyses the differences and similarities of the patterns. As eaves tile with four gods represents the animal patterns of Han Dynasty, the forth part introduces the origin of four gods and the eaves tiles with that pattern separately. The fifth part is the last part; it concludes the aesthetic value and influence of eaves tiles with cloud patterns and animal patterns of Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province.It hopes that this study will give the clear idea of the development of eaves tiles with cloud patterns and animal patterns of Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province.