Research On The Phenomenon Of Lacquerware Containing Etiquette During Pre-Qin Period

Chinese lacquer culture has a long history,as early as pre-Qin period,whether it is lacquer craft,objects shape,or other objects of decorative art all have made brilliant achievements,and exert an important influence to the lacquer culture.In recent years,the research on lacquer ware during pre-Qin period has become more and more detailed,especially notable achievements have been made in periodization,decoration,craft,art,aesthetic value,handicraft level,and so on.In the pre-Qin society of objects containing etiquette,lacquer ware,like bronze ware and jade ware,is an important carrier of presenting ceremony,and is an important ritual that ancient people express ideas.At the same time,lacquer ware and other Ritual and Musical Instruments constitute the material system of the Ritual and Music Culture of Pre-Qin period.However,on the issue of lacquer ware containing etiquette,the academic circles have not been fully considered.In this paper,the author uses double Evidence Act to make a special discussion on the issue of lacquer ware(it specifically refers to this type of lacquer ware which is closely related to Five Rites,and there are several types as follows: drum,bow,arrow,vehicle,coffin,Tomb-guarding Animal,wooden handle,wooden figurine,rod,seat screen,harp and diet instruments made of wood,metal bronze,the shield and armor made of leather,Dou and pot made of pottery,the stone axe and cloth crown etc.)containing etiquette during pre-Qin period through the combination of unearthed lacquer ware,unearthed literature and classical documents.The full text is divided into six parts as follows:First,the first part discusses the etiquette of lacquer ware which exists in Ji Li.Wooden eating utensils,such as Ding,Gui,Fu,Li and Zu,are owned by the high status,and they mostly belong to a type of sacrificial vessel.On the one hand,thiskind of sacrificial vessel symbolizes power and status of users,on the other hand,it is a kind of sacrificial utensil to pray for peace and harvest when the user worships ancestors.The same as the eating utensil,dancing in appliances also belongs to the category of drum sacrificial ritual the drum of dancing and musical instruments also belongs to the category of sacrificial utensil,which contains a sense of authority and divine communication.According to the characteristic of divine communication,Gan(shield)used in Wanwu(a dance for the banquet or sacrifice)mostly becomes a utensil of prayer and repelling disaster when the ancients worship mountains and rivers.According to their characteristics of function and shape,bow and arrow derive the meaning of praying for begetting a son,and the crown is an important symbol to distinguish the custom and nobility of Xia-Shang-Zhou Dynasties from the color and number.Second,the second part discusses the etiquette of lacquer ware which exists in Xiong Li.The coffin system has gone through different stages of development from prehistory to Shang and Zhou Dynasties,so this chapter through the analysis of different coffins in the same period and different periods to demonstrate hierarchical idea of the coffin coffin system.Meanwhile,this chapter takes Chu in the mid-Warring States as an example to justify the correctness and hierarchy of the coffin system in the book of Rites.As a funerary object,the number of lacquer ware is an important symbol to measure the status of the owner and the scale of the tomb,and various colors,patterns and shapes of lacquer objects can also reflect different social customs.In addition,there are some funerary lacquer works becoming some musical instruments for the dead to communicate with the gods and barge into Heaven.There will be some corresponding disaster relief devices in Zai Li.Among the natural disasters,the different colors of the lacquer works represent different orientations,and disaster relief devices are mostly endowed with mysterious functions,making it become a symbol of repelling disaster and exorcising evil spirits.Third,the third part discusses the etiquette of lacquer ware which exists in Jun Li.When the army go on an expedition,a snare drum is often used as a vessel of Blood Sacrifice.In the military ceremony,the emperor,princes or bureaucrats use a snare drum to shout an order at the army.At the same time,it is also used to communicate with ancestral spirit to bless to win the war,so the snare drum is actually a kind of sacrificial vessel with the characteristics of authority,divinecommunication and conquest.In addition,some lacquer works will be presented as a gift of respect for each other in order to show national etiquette and the hierarchy between monarchs and bureaucrats.In Ceremonial Etiquette,an axe implies divine power and status of the users,and a variety of gorgeous ceremonial utensils are often taken as a symbol of military authority.In military parade ceremony,the differences of lacquer works show that a variety of military instruments,on the basis of different identities of the emperor,princes and bureaucrats,can present different grades and majesty.Fourth,the fourth part discusses the etiquette of lacquer ware which exists in Bin Li.In Chao Li and Jin Li(a kind of etiquette that princes and bureaucrats have an audience of the emperor),lacquer work contains the connotation of hierarchy and respect,Yi(the screen)is mainly used to show the majesty of monarch;the number and the decoration of vehicles can also display the user’s hierarchy;giving away the bow and arrow means to stop war and surrender.In Shangci Li(the ceremony of awarding and Title-granting system),bow,arrow and vehicle are used in Title-granting system,and they can show affinities,respect and being spoiled,which is a symbol of status,merit,authority and virtue.Unlike the vehicle,bow and arrow can be a symbol of the right of conquest.However,bow and arrow contain the connotation of respect,pledge and credit in Xiangjian Li.In diplomatic ceremony,the number of vehicle is regarded as a sign of the degree of etiquette and affinities between states.Fifth,the fifth part discusses the etiquette of lacquer ware which exists in Jia Li.In the Dietetic Ritual,from prehistoric times to Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period,the combination situation of eating utensils of lacquer can reflect the different etiquette features in different periods.The combination,layout,and quantity of the musical instruments of lacquer will vary depending on the user’s identity,and dancing props of lacquer are the carrier through Wen Wu(aristocratic dance)and Wu Wu(martial dance)to express their Chinese pen and sword arts.In She Li(archery rites),lacquer ware has obvious difference between superiors and inferiors,and especially the color,shape,size and quality of bow and arrow should be consistent with the corresponding identity.At the wedding,different classes will highlight the wedding ceremony in a manner of Shesheng(it is a manner by raising the level of the vehicle).In pension etiquette,giving away utensils and quantitative allocation of lacquer ware express respect.Some important lacquer wares are used tomanifest the grandeur of ceremony in the etiquette of succession to the crown.In summary,lacquer ware has the characteristics of communicating with God,identifying social rank,differentiating between superiors and inferiors,distinguishing between noble and humble,presenting affinities,highlighting the pomp and circumstance,showing the customs and etiquette,meaning military crusade and advocating martialism.Meanwhile,lacquer ware also contains the meaning of politeness,respect,virtue,pledge and credit.In addition,in postscript part,several additional issues are discussed as follows: firstly,this paper makes a simple textual research on the relationship between the concept of color etiquette and lacquer ware in pre-Qin period.Secondly,the historical process of the phenomenon of lacquer ware containing etiquette during pre-Qin period is arranged in chronological order.Thirdly,in this paper,the author discusses the concept of using lacquer ware by Confucianism,Mohism,Taoism,Legalism and Military Strategists of pre-Qin Period.Finally,the status,function and influence of lacquer ware constructing ritual and music society of pre-Qin period are made a preliminary discussion.Through preliminary research,we can find that lacquer ware in pre-Qin period is a concrete carrier of showing people’s ideas and social emotions,and the phenomenon of lacquer ware containing etiquette is an important window to reflect the characteristics of ritual and music society of pre-Qin period.