The Application Of Bronze Mirrors In Pagodas In Song And Liao Dynasties

Bronze mirrors are an important part of ancient material and cultural materials.There is a long history of using bronze mirrors in China.There are various ways of using bronze mirrors.Not only as a kind of daily necessities inseparable from people’s life,but also as an important religious instrument in Buddhist activities and Buddhist architecture.In this paper,the bronze mirrors found in the sacred space of Buddhist pagodas during Song and Liao dynasties.Starting from the actual unearthed situation of bronze mirrors,according to the differences in unearthed state,distinguish the types of pagodas using mirrors.At the same time,combined with Buddhist books,historical documents,explore the characteristics and sources of each phenomenon.It is of great significance to further understand the relationship between bronze mirror and Buddhism.In the Song and Liao Dynasties,bronze mirrors were very common in pagodas.The bronze mirrors unearthed in the pagoda vary in location,including the Tibetan mirror placed in the pagoda,the inlaid mirror on the outside of the pagoda,the hanging mirror on the top of the pagoda underground palace and the wall.The popularity period and distribution area of mirror use are very different.It can be seen that the three mirror use phenomena express different meanings and have their own development paths and historical origins.Most of the mirrors are offerings for the burials,while a few are used for the burials of rituals.Offering mirrors are composed of plain mirrors,ancient mirrors and engraved mirrors.The difference in types reflects the believers’ different financial resources and beliefs.The ultimate purpose is to accumulate merit through offering bronze mirrors.Buddhism regards bright and clear mirrors as religious treasures,and bronze mirrors as offerings conform to the Buddhist view of mirrors.Promoted by the secularization of Buddhism and the eminent monk Deshao,bronze mirrors became a common offering for Buddhist activities in the Song and Liao Dynasties.The embedding mirror is a unique decorative art in the late Liao Dynasty.The phenomenon of embedded mirrors in the pagoda was influenced by two aspects.On the one hand,a large number of bronze mirrors were used in stately palaces and Buddhist halls.The Liao Dynasty inherited the decoration techniques of the previous dynasties.On the other hand,Buddhism in the late Liao Dynasty was very close and harmonious.Monks involved in the construction of Buddhist pagodas decorated the body with Buddhist mirrors in order to expand the religious function of the pagodas.Hanging bronze mirrors at the top of the palace is not unique to the underground palace,the same period of burial also have this phenomenon.The hanging mirror is an integral part of the interior decoration of underground space in the early Northern Song Dynasty.The hanging mirror decoration has obvious architectural color,specially cast to match the top decoration of the palace.The essence is to the ground building caisson decoration transfer.