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Han dynasty bronze mirrors

Type Object Region China Time c. 1–500

Han bronze mirrors were cast from copper-tin alloy, ground to a reflective surface, and decorated with geometric, divine-beast, and inscription patte…

Timeline

  1. c. 1–100Chang'an · ShaanxiWestern Han bronze mirrors were typified by grass-leaf patterns, star-cloud patterns, and Zhaoming mirror inscriptions; casting and grinding techniques were mature, and bronze mirrors became a common category among scholar burials and daily utensils.
  2. c. 100–220Mirror workshops in Zhejiang and Jiangsu · ChinaThe Eastern Han saw classic forms such as TLV (guiju) mirrors and Four Symbols mirrors, with backs decorated with the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and TLV symbols, and inscriptions commonly bearing workshop marks like 'Shangfang' and 'Wangshi'.
  3. c. 100–220Chang'an · ShaanxiHan light-transmitting mirrors could project their back patterns onto a wall under strong light, demonstrating casting skill in precisely controlling alloy thickness and curvature, and standing as an outstanding representative of Han metallurgical craft.
  4. c. 220–500Various regions north and south of China · ChinaIn the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, bronze mirror decoration tended toward simplification, with more immortal and Daoist subjects and diverging regional workshop styles; the Han bronze mirror tradition laid the foundation for the further development of Sui and Tang bronze mirrors.

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