Research On Taotie Pattern Of Shang And Zhou Bronzes

During the Shang and Zhou dynasties,the nobles used a lot of bronzes in religious and political activities.Taotie pattern,as an important decorative pattern on Shang and Zhou bronzes,has been studied by many scholars.Previous research results have deeply discussed the prototype,connotation and origin of Taotie pattern on bronze ware,but no unified conclusion has been formed.On the basis of previous studies,this paper uses archaeological research methods to explore Taotie patterns on Shang and Zhou bronzes.Taking Taotie pattern bronzes unearthed in modern archaeological excavations as the research object,this paper mainly selects Taotie pattern Bronzes Excavated in archaeological excavations or other ways after the founding of the People’s Republic of China,and involves a small number of important Taotie pattern bronzes in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China with a clear date and location.The selected bronzes involve different types and different stages of Shang and Zhou dynasties.According to the unearthed situation,this paper classifies and stages the Taotie pattern bronzes of Shang and Zhou dynasties,and analyzes the pattern of Taotie pattern bronzes.This paper first analyzes the evolution of the body and facial organs of Taotie patterns on Shang and Zhou bronzes,and then analyzes the evolution of the overall Taotie patterns.The evolution of Taotie pattern on Shang and Zhou bronzes went through four stages:formation,maturity,development and decline.In the period of formation,it is mainly composed of a double body Taotie pattern;in the period of maturity,it is mainly composed of a double body Taotie pattern;in the period of development,it is mainly composed of a double body Taotie pattern;in the period of decline,it gradually degenerates into patterns.Combined with the pattern evolution law and the religious culture of Shang and Zhou dynasties,this paper analyzes the prototype and connotation of Taotie pattern on Shang and Zhou bronzes.The prototype of Taotie pattern on bronze ware is the combination of animal and human images,which can be divided into tiger,dragon and realistic Taotie patterns.Tiger,dragon,Phoenix,ox,sheep and other animals symbolize the totem beast,and man is the symbol of ancestors,kings and sages.The connotation of Taotie pattern may be that it is the ancestor god who controls the beast.It has the function of protecting and sacrificing,acting as the messenger of ancestor god and spirit,and reposing the holy and powerful implication.On the basis of inheriting its own tradition,Shang Dynasty absorbed Erlitou cultural factors,and gradually formed Taotie patterns on bronze wares of Shang and Zhou Dynasties when they expanded in the early and middle periods.Its origin is related to Shimao culture.Shimao culture influences Xiajiadian lower culture and Taosi culture.The lower culture of Xiajiadian had frequent exchanges with the pre Shang culture of Baobei.The Taosi culture influenced Erlitou culture,and the Shang culture was influenced by Erlitou culture.The stone carving of tiger man,the stone carving of human head in Shimao culture and the decoration of human head in Erlitou culture may be the source of Tiger shaped Taotie pattern on bronze wares of Shang Dynasty.The snake dragon pattern of Shimao culture,the plate snake dragon pattern of Taosi culture,the double snake dragon pattern and clawed dragon pattern of Erlitou culture may be the source of Dragon shaped Taotie pattern of Shang Dynasty.After the late Western Zhou Dynasty,Taotie pattern gradually disappeared on bronzes,and was widely used in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.After the Han Dynasty,there are still imprints on the decorative relief of pushou and buildings.