A Study On Funerary Coins In Tombs From Shang To Han Dynasty

The funerary coins in tombs from Shang to Han dynasty comes from life and above life,with a rich variety,diverse texture,different from the nature of the coin features in the life,it is a concrete material remains,has a developing and evaluating process.At the same time,the use of buried coins is a complex social phenomenon,is a cultural carrier,carrying the concept and social consciousness that has been overshadowed by history.This is a study on the funerary coins of their own development process and also an investigation into its use to explore.First,Based on the statistical analysis of archaeological finds buried coins in tombs of Shang,Zhou,Qin and Han dynasty,divided the funerary coins into three classes below,seashells and imitation shellfish,currencies of precious metals and imitation coins,copper coins and imitation coins,each category there are a number of small classes and types,then their respective types of pop era,related historical background,pop geographical will be explored.Second,according to the location of unearthed coins,interest in the use of coins during the holding of the funeral,burial and ritual,"restoration" coins used in the funeral scene,in order to a more detailed analysis of the meaning and concept of currency during the funeral to express.Analysis the coins included in the inside of the mouth,hold it in hands,placed around the body and used at the bottom of coffin;analysis used as decoration and placed outside the coffin,containers and other buried in the process.The position of Buried coins associated with the nature of the funeral rites,buried the coin itself,also with the evolution trend of tombs on the residential life simulation and related ideas has a close relationship.Finally,on the base of analyzing the type of the funerary coins,pop era,and the process of funeral coin usage,analyze the relationship of funerary coins and the transmutation of burial concept.From Shang to Western Zhou dynasty,the tombs in all sectors were generally buried with seashells and imitation shellfish,the Volume and texture is a certain standard difference between the identity of the tomb level,until the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period more popular in the tombs of the middle and upper social.A shift was occurred about the cultural significance of the funeral shellfish during the late Western Zhou,seashells monetary functions gradually decline,but also has the meaning of wealth and decorations,and the various imitation shellfish burial became popular.After the Spring and Autumn Dynasty,the ceremony of containing shellfish in the mouth and hand were fading,seashells and imitation shellfish have gradually features of the special funerary coins and become the conventional funeral supplies,and the decorative function has changed,used as body decoration mainly in the Shang and Zhou dynasty substituted as artifacts decorated the transition in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period.By the time of Qin and Han dynasty,funerary coins used in funeral close to the fashion and social life,particularly from middle to late Western Han to Eastern Han dynasty later,the economic strength more and more play a decisive role of the number of funerary coins used in the funeral,the performance of level identity weakened,coupled with the impact of currency of worship,lavish funeral and filial piety concept,the use of funerary coins become extravagant and wasteful.In addition,the article also discussed other questions,such as the production and development process of Mingbi,and the custom of buried with old coins.