Study on Bronze Weapons of Sichuan Basin

Thousands of bronze weapons have been discovered during the long history of archaeological excavation in the Sichuan basin. While these finds have provided a great deal of information concerning Sichuan's Bronze Age culture, it has become essential to reevaluate earlier research on Sichuan bronze weapons and to synthesize data obtained over half a century. This thesis examines yue (axe), ge (dagger-axe), mao (spearhead), jian (dagger/sword) from the Sichuan basin, including the type, decoration, size, weight, function, technology and archaeological contexts. The intended goal of the current thesis is to reconstruct the chronological history of Sichuan bronze weapons, and to reconsider the relationship between the cultures of Bronze Age Sichuan and the Central Plain, as well as the relationship between the cultures of different periods inside the Sichuan basin.;The thesis begins with an introduction of the environment, circulation of products, as well as the archaeological remains of Sichuan. Chapter two argues that the yue, which was considered as a distinctive Sichuan weapon, is more likely a kind of tool. Chapters three to five reconstruct the overall history of Sichuan's bronze weapons by tracing the chronological changes of each kind of weapon (ge, mao and jian), and discuss the connections between Sichuan's weapons and other relevant finds both inside and outside the Sichuan basin through comparison and stylistic analysis. Chapters six and seven explore the remarkable transformation of Sichuan's weapons in the sixth century BC by analyzing the relationship between Sichuan's weapons and local legend, religion, history and society. The final chapter concludes the thesis by reconsidering issues of cultural independence and continuity of Sichuan Bronze Age culture.