The Research Of Xuande Antique Bronzes

The Xuande antique bronzes, as represented by the Xuande incense burner, reaches another peak in the Chinese history of bronze ware making after the Shang, Zhou and Song dynasties. Research in the field has been concentrating on their authenticity, craftsmanship and materials, while systematic studies on their birth, development, artistic features and cultural implications have not been conducted so far.Produced on the order of Emperor Xuande during his reign in the Ming dynasty, the Xuande antique bronzes are results of copying the bronze ware as presented in documents such as Collection of Paintings of the Xuanhe Antiques and The Picture Book of Antiques, or those produced by the reputed kilns in the Song and Yuan dynasties and were collected in the royal court. As the majority of these bronzes are incense burners, the Xuande incense burner has become the conventional name for the bronze ware produced during this period of time. Xuande incense burner features harmonious, uniform and symmetrical pattern, jewehy-like, luxurious and softening color, and delicate, proportional, and geometrical shape, embodying a simplistic and unpretentious beauty. These bronze burners have been admirably produced from selective materials, therefore become the model for imitators of the coming generations. The reasons for the production of these bronzes are manifold:to start with, it is based on the prosperity of the time; secondly, it is made possible by the antique craze of Emperor Xuande; and finally, it is a requirement of the recovery of the ritual regime.Initially a ritual instrument, the Xuande incense burner represented the imperial will and was the carrier of the political, ethical and moral rites. With the advancement of time, its function evolved, becoming the preferred collectables of the intellectuals, which endowed the Xuande incense burners some cultural connotations and expanding its value from the practical sides into targets of appreciation.Based on such literatures as Records of Xuande Vessels and knowledge from other relevant disciplines, This paper attempts to systematically approach this issue by examining the extant Xuande antique bronzes. The appearance of antique bronzes in the reign of Xuande is not only supported by the contemporary material development, but is also deeply rooted in the cultural history and political climate. In the early days of the Ming dynasty, the barbarous Yuan had just been overthrown, the traditional Han culture was vigorously restored. As such, the Confucian thoughts of "endowing literature with truthfulness" and "cultivating civilization and morality" are also reflected in the making of bronzes. Out of admiration for the splendid cultural achievements of the previous era, the design of Xuande incense burners followed the example of the classic shape of the bronze ware of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, and that of the porcelain of the Song dynasty. Characterized by its selection of materials, exquisite design and marvelous craftsmanship, the Xuande incense burners embedded the Confucian aesthetic pursuits of integrity, honesty, gentility and peacefulness in its archaic, elegant shape and jade-like luster. The Confucian thought of gentility was well-illustrated in the Xuande antique bronzes, which strike a significant balance between rite and art.