Bronze States Should Organize Research

Bronzes of Ying State (in Henan Province) is an important part of vassal state bronzes in the Western and Eastern Zhou periods, which existed from the early Western Zhou Dynasty until the Warring States period. Ying Bronze’s development can be mainly divided into two stages. The first stage is from the early Western Zhou Dynasty to the early Spring and Autumn period, and the second stage is from the late Spring and Autumn period to Warring States period. The dissertation takes the first stage as the object of study, focusing on different kinds of receptacles, and including weapons, masks and so on.This thesis consists of six chapters. The first chapter introduces current academic study results and dynamic state, and analyzes its achievements and problems. Then I will show the direction, the significance of the research and the methods of which.The second chapter elaborates the stages of the Ying State Bronzes, which composes of two parts and is a core part of this thesis. As important backgrounds Section I deals with currently known bronzes belonging to Ying State, including bronzes excavated from cemetery of Ying State and those by handed down or purchased and collected. Section II tries to handle with the country’s bronze stage speculation. I choose Ding, Gui, Zeng, Ge, Xu, Jue, Zun, You, Hu, Pan,He and Yi thirteen kinds of bronzes to make type analysis and divide the first phase of Ying State Bronzes into two periods and seven groups. The first phase includes the first, second and third group, the second phase includes the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh group; the second phase can be divided into two phases,the first one including the fourth, fifth, sixth group and the latter including the seventh group. This article argues the first group should belong to Cheng Kang period, the second group belongs to about from the late period of King Kang to early King Mu period, the third group belongs to King Mu period, the forth belongs to late period of Mu Wang to the beginning of Li Wang, the sixth belongs to from the early period of Li Wang to Xuan and You period, the seventh belongs to early Spring and Autumn period. The turn point between the first phase and the second is around the late period of Mu Wang,the dividing line of the second phase is about the changes period from Western Zhou to Eastern Zhou Dynasty. From the perspective of cultural analysis, chapter III compares the shape,ornamentations,inscription and combination of Ying State Bronzes with the Bronzes of the central places of Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and it will show the similarities and differences of them.is mainly to business, Zhou Ji bronze with State Bronze Comparative Study, cut from four angles of the class, the shape, decoration, inscriptions, a combination of the control group, study Bronze and Zhou Ji bronze commonalities and differences. Chapter IV choose two another important local states Jin State (in Shanxi province) and Zeng State (in Hubei province), compare their bronzes with Ying’s. While also choose some unique Ying State Bronzes with the bronzes of other places of the same time to make a comparative study,aiming at to observe the exchanges and spread of bronzes in different local states under one unified political and cultural system.Chapter V combines the research of bronzes with the history and public of Ying State.This chapter consists of two main parts. The first one concerns the descent of Ying Hou and their reign periods, time is confined in the first stage of Ying State Bronzes.The second part studies Ying State’s political system through the inscriptions in the bronzes, such as the other inscriptions visits the country’s, such as the nature and differences of Shi and Jian, the meaning and institution of Gong,Hou and Bo system. The six chapter is the conclusion and summary of my research.The dissertation establishes the evolution of the spatial framework of the first stage of Ying State Bronzes for the first time, extracts some unique cultural characteristics of Ying State Bronzes, which will contributes to make us get more clear and profound understanding of the status of Ying State Bronzes in Shang and Zhou Bronzes. Of course, owing to the limitation of the published materials and research abilities of the author, some subjects remain unresolved, for instance, both the installments of Ying State Bronzes and lineage and reign of Ying Hou still need to make a partial adjustment.