Bronze Ware in the Xia Dynasty
4 min readAncient Chinese believe that the origin of bronze ware is mysterious and sacred. Many vivid myths and legends on the origin of bronze are spread over past dynasties. Up to now, the earliest bronze ware, cast in 3000 BC or so that was discovered in China, were bronze knives and some bronze ware relics unearthed in Dongxiang, Gansu in 1975.
20.7cm high. Unearthed in Erlitou, Yanshi, Henan in 1984. Kept in the Archaeology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Ancient Chinese deemed bronze cooking vessels for sacrifices were most noble. Ancient literature indicates that the earliest casting of bronze Ding (caldron with tripod legs) started at 2100 BC, the beginning of the Xia Dynasty, the first national regime in Chinese history. It is said that Xia’s founder Yu and his son Qi issued decrees to cast nine large bronze Ding. They were later passed down in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties.
The Xia Dynasty’s 470-year-long reign was a burgeoning period in Chinese bronze art. However,a previous lengthy period of more than 20 centuries had passed since the discovery and use of natural copper until bronze smelting and bronze ware production.
Archeological discoveries from the Xia Dynasty chiefly include the late period of Henan’s Longshan Culture(2700-2100 BC) and Yanshi Erlitou Culture (1800-1600 BC), situated in today’s middle and western Henan and southern Shanxi provinces.
Many Xia Dynasty bronze ware were excavated from these sites, including production tools like knives, chisels, awls and barbs, weapons such as dagger-axes, axes, arrowheads, vessels of Jue(an ancient wine vessel with three legs and a loop handle), Gu (a beaker), He (ancient utensil) and other containers. However, traditional Ding were not unearthed there.
In the Xia Dynasty, bronze ware processing applied similar pottery shapes as the model. Some bronze Jue and He unearthed at the Erlitou site are similar with the pottery counterparts in their shapes. However, some bronze ware moved away from pottery forms and structures, resulting in forging its own independent designs.
The production of quite sophisticated bronze Jue and other vessels indicates the Xia made great progress in bronze casting technology.A model with intended shapes were first fabricated with clay for bronze ware casting.A single model was enough for casting simple items like knives and arrowheads. Two models wererequired for more complicated ware. For vessels like Jue and Ding, several models and inner models were necessary and some accessory components had to be welded together.
Erlitou Relics
Erlitou Relics，located at Erlitou Village，Yanshi，Henan province，was discovered in 1959.For a long time，there were two different opinions about Erlitou Culture in the academic circle:some experts believed Phase I to Phase IV of Erlitou Relics belonged to the cultural relics of Xia Dynasty（2100-1600BC）and the place where the relics were discovered was the capital of Xia.Others believed Phase I and II were cultural relics of the Xia Dynasty，but Phase III and Phase IV were relics of the Shang Dynasty（1600-1100BC）and the place was the capital of Shang.With the completeion of the Xia and Shang periodization program，most scholars accepted the opinion that the major part of Erlitou Culture was relics of the Xia Dynasty and Erlitou was the capital of the middle and late Xia Dynasty.
The Xia Dynasty’s bronze vessels seldom have simple patterns.On the contrary，the unearthed bronze plates of the same period，boasting elaborated designs，production and complicated turquoise mosaics，considered the most exquisite artwork created by the Xia’s bronze craftsmen.
The bronze plates，unearthed from tombs of noble families and found at the owners’waists，are square，round in edges and corners，and slightly narrower in the middle.The plate，having two holes on each side，ispresumed to be an ornament that was sewn on hemp clothes or used as an amulet to protect against evils or devils.Nearly a hundred different and fine-ground turquoise pieces were orderly arranged to form an eye-popped Taotie（a mythical ferocious animal）through rigid design and calculation.This is the early form of the Taotie theme，which became the dominant decoration on bronze ware in the following Shang and Zhou dynasties.
Xia.Bronze Plate Decoration embedded with kalliate16.5cm long.Unearthed in Erlitou，Yanshi，Henan in 1984.Kept in the Archaeology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.It is the earliest discovery of a Taotie image.Several pieces of similar works were found with the image varying slightly.
Jewelry-inlaid bronze ware has the beautiful name of”gold inlaid with jade.”The combination of jewelry and bronze enriched the form and ornamentation of bronze ware.This technology was constantly developed from then onwards and was prevalent in the later Spring and Autumn（770-476 BC）and Warring States（475-221BC）periods，contributing to the brilliant and gorgeous appearances of the bronze ware in those days.
The Xia Dynasty’s bronze plates demonstrate China’s bronze ware casting entered a mature period very early to the later generations.The craftsmen not only focused on the practical use of these items，but also presented their definite aesthetic intentions.
