Mirror In The Traditional Culture Of China

According to the cultural relic,the history of mirror in China has lasted for at least four thousand years. The mirror is not only an article for daily use,but also the matter carrier of spirit of human beings. The use of its front,addition to the decorative pattern and inscription on its back have already composed a cultural system. On the basis of this,mirror and other kinds of culture permeated each other,and formed an even more larger system. The study on mirror has already got some achivements. But the study on the relation between mirror and other culture is not enough at all. It is just from the last one,can we know how the mirror developed to both extensive and profound.This disseration just takes the relation between mirror and other culture as research object. Here we choose folk custom,religion and novel as the main points,to investigate the use of mirror in them.The first chapter studies the relation between mirror and folk custom. Mirror is commonly used hi almost all sorts of folk custom,such as birth,marriage,burial rites,medical treatment and divination. It plays an outstanding and magical role in them. All these show the great effect of primitive belief and witch craft.The second and the third chapters study the relation between mirror and religion. In the developing process of religion,mirror is commonly used not only hi the primitive religion,such as Saman and Bon,but also in the mature religion,such as Taorism and Buddhism,and it is used magically too. On the one hand,this act comes from folk custom,on the other hand,religion brings about great progress for it. Along with the development of religion,mirror has gone to profoundity.In the last chapter,we investigate the relation between mirror and novel. In the culture of China,mirror has become not only a cultural motiv,but also a novel motiv. From novel's emergence hi Han dynasty,to its high tide Qing dynasty,mirror appeared hi all the time. From these brilliant works,we can see the developing process of cognition of mankind.On the basis of these,we can draw a conclusion,that is,the culture of mirror is an open developing system.The positive interflow and blend between mirror and other culture brings about the great vitality of mirror.