Two-week Study Of Bronze Guo And Related Issues

Bronze He is one of the popular utensil in Shang and Zhou Dynasties,whose name is derived from its own inscription.The thesis analyzes the self-naming of He,as well as some special graphemic self-naming,such as Yuanzuo He,Bochong He,Qian He,Tu He,Bo He,Jiazhong He,Boyongfu He.Among them,Qian He is the most special one,named from “?” and “?”,which can prove that the form of He's name has difference between “?” and “?”.In terms of the self-naming of He,this paper demonstrates that the basic form of He is with a spout,a lateral handle or upper handle,three or four feet,and a lid.This thesis also proves that the utensils named Ying and Jiao are actually two kinds of He.In addition,according to the inscriptions and the combination of the grave,the thesis analyzes that the utensil named from “?” was used to load water,while the utensil named from “?” functioned as wine vessel and argues the relationship between He and Pan,and also proves the Yi had taken over the function of He as water vessel.Further more,this paper analyzes the He's different main functions during different times.This is the first part of this thesis.The second part of this article,based on the archaeological data,collects all three kinds of He in special shapes that we have observed yet--Oval He,Drum He and Yan He,and analyzes them by typology,presenting their features in different times and different regions,their functions,their applicable people and their inscriptions and patterns.Oval He is a bronze He with oblate belly which was popular in northwest Henan,southwest Shanxi and the heartland of Shaanxi during the late Western Zhou Dynasty and the early and middle Spring and Autumn Period.Almost all places of its appearance are the vassal states of Ji's family or the regions directly under the jurisdiction of King Zhou and its users are the noble class or king and queen.In addition,Oval He is mainly used as water vessel and its ornaments are always dragon and phoenix.Drum He reigns supreme as the most popular vessel in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period,which is so long that throughout the whole Eastern Zhou Dynasty,since the early of Spring and Autumn Period to the late Warring States Period.Besides,It is widely spread that its unearthed relics cover 13 provinces such as Hebei,Henan,Shandong,Shanxi and Shaanxi and 10 vassal states such as Chu,Jin,Zhongshan and Zhongli,as well as regions of tribes such as Dongyi and Bashu.Before the Spring and Autumn Period,Drum He mainly functions as water vessel,while starting from late Spring and Autumn Period,it is developed as wine vessel then being completely used as wine-warmer during late Warring States Period.Moreover,the function of the Drum He also varies on account of tomb owner's gender.Before the early Warring StatesPeriod,Drum He's patterns and ornaments are complicated and exquisite,while since the early Warring States Period,it has become simple and plain.Yan He is a container of the group of the implements representing the Qunshu civilization,prevailed in the late Western Zhou Dynasty and the early Warring States Period.It is merely unearthed in Jianghuai Watershed Area.Yan He's shape is derived from earlier earthenware Yan He of the same region and time.It functions as wine vessel,which can be further subdivided into vine storage.Although Yan He is a kind of bronze with local characteristics,more or less,its patterns and decorations are also influenced by central plains culture.