Research On The Bronze Sacrificial Wares Of The Zhou Dynasty In Wu-Yue Area

In this thesis,the research on the bronze sacrificial wares of the Zhou dynasty in Wu-Yue area involves four aspects: type & age,cultural factor & evolution program,casting technique,ritual system & burial custom.At present,there are mainly three dating methods for bronze wares,and each method has its advantages and disadvantages.Typology is still the dominant method,it is used to classify the bronze sacrificial wares(food,wine,and water wares)in Wu-Yue area in this thesis,so the basic chronological framework is established by combining ceramics.According to the evolution of the shape and ornamentation of the wares,the bronze sacrificial wares of the Zhou dynasty in Wu-Yue area experienced four development stages: the middle and late period of the Western Zhou Dynasty,the early Spring and Autumn period,the middle Spring and Autumn period,the late Spring and Autumn period to the Warring States period.Bronze sacrificial wares in this area have various cultural factors,including local factors,Central Plain factors,Chu factors and Shu factors.The local factors are clear,Central Plain culture affected these wares in the earlier period,and Chu culture affected them in the later period.Due to the composition of these cultural factors in each period and region is different,the appearance of wares is different and unbalanced in each time and area,this is related to the social environment at that time.Most bronze wares were cast locally,the mineral resources in this area determined that the lead content of wares in the earlier period is high,but the tin content risen dramatically in the later period.The main casting techniques include whole casting and separate casting,the first one had lasted a long time since it was invented,and the second one became widespread in the Eastern Zhou period.Engraved wares were created in the late Spring and Autumn period in this area,it marked the new peak of bronze casting technology.The people in Wu-Yue area had many beliefs,and they often held religious ceremonies,a lot of archaeological evidence can prove it,such as bird sculpture and snake ornamentation on the wares.Stamped hard pottery and protoporcelain were usually buried in the tombs,this phenomenon lasted a long time,and developed a specialized kind: porcelain sacrificial wares imitated from bronze.The tombs of the Wu Kingdom had more bronze sacrificial wares,while the tombs of the Yue Kingdom had no bronze but porcelain sacrificial wares,this demonstrates the difference of burial custom between the two kingdoms.A complete system of bronze sacrificial wares was not formed during the Zhou dynasty in Wu-Yue area,but the governors started to learn ritual system of Central Plain area during the later period,because of the changes of the political situation.Due to the ethnic identity,there were some differences between the attitude to the external culture in the Wu and Yue Kingdom.