The Evolution of Decorations On Bronze Sculpture Statue
The changes in the relationship between people and animals have influenced the evolution of the bronze sculpture statue decorations in the Shang and Zhou. The performances of the effects are that it has expressed people’s helplessness, fear and awe toward the nature which compel people to look forward the sanctuary from gods and spirits. They even imagine themselves as some kind of beast, who carved shapes and decorations like the beast with a human head or a human with a beast head. Through such ferocious and weird decorations to ward off evils and disasters, they can enhance their own sense of security. With the development of productivity, the ancients fight with the wild beasts relying on the wisdom and tools. And the results changes from the occasional win to gradually stalemate and further to seize the initiative as challengers, entering the era of man pursuing and hunting animals. Taotie on the bronze sculptures occupied a leading position during the previous period, has reduced in numbers and areas bit by bit. Besides, the weird power they have performed diminished and lost the old supernatural magic power. Furthermore, the pattern of animal among the china bronze sculptures decorations is still preserved, but no longer has monstrous power or replaced by realistic animals, human or geometric patterns.
The second reason is attributing to the transformation in the function of bronze sculptures of China. Bronze yi(彝器) in Shang and early Zhou is a combination of wine vessels, especially sacrificial bronze statues. Its animal patterns are closely related to worship their ancestors. There are some animals is to help the shaman contact the heaven and hell, thus their image will be cast in ancient yi. It is not difficult to imagine that, the weird decorations on the chinese bronze sculptures placed people in fear and dignity. And surrounded by the burning incense, these monsters star with the huge eyes and mouth opening widely and angrily which seems to roar in a flash. This kind of patterns can contribute to create serious and solemn, quiet and secretive atmosphere, resulting in deterrent force shocking people. In this way, it will fully exhibit the will and physical strength of the rulers.
During the Spring and Autumn period, political reforms and academic contentions got unprecedented prosperity. The application of bronze sculptures is a set of lining up tripods and playing musical performance during a meal with the quality of yi(彝) and sacrificial vessels. The usage of the china bronze sculpture has slowly turned into everyday use. The style of bronze statue is not only based on human scale, even become delicate, lush, and smart and novelty in contrast with the simple and unadorned patterns in the previous period.
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