The development of the form/style of bronze hu and its ritual role transformation－ from the Shang Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn period

• Main Authors: Ling tzu-hui, 林姿慧
• Other Authors: Huang tsuimei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/57826965044432821353

碩士 === 臺南藝術學院 === 藝術史與藝術評論研究所 === 93 === Abstract This essay will discuss the shape，form，and the development of the bronze hu and its relationship with the ritual from the Shang Dynasty to the mid and late Spring and Autumn period. From the bronze hu dug up，we can find its development history is quite long. From the Shang Dynasty to the beginning of the Western Zhou period，the bronze hu either in form or in set of ritual vessels did not play a major role. But starting from the late Western Zhou period to the mid and late Spring and Autumn period，the size of the square hu was amazing and its decorations gorgeous. And it became a very major role to bury the dead with it for the royal family. But this trend was fading between the Spring and Autumn period to Warring States period. This dramatic change had something to do with its function，and it also directly related to the change of the core value system of the society at that time. This essay includes five chapters. The first chapter covers the reviews of history documents and the research motivation and its methods，it also define the form of the bronze hu and also categorized part of the bronze you（卣）in the same category. The second chapter focus on the bronze hu by form. It will cover the historical bronze hu and vessels categorization. And my method of its categorization and the detailed explanation plus illustration；by shape and its neck /belly size ratio’s characteristic etc. The bronze hu will be categorized as A Class－narrow neck type，B/B′Class as broad neck type，C Class －large type twin hus ，D Class narrow short neck and broad belly hu，E Class the other unique type hus. The third chapter will explore the archaeological distribution of bronze hu of each epoch. The fourth chapter will explore the development of the bronze hu in detail and the comparison of the different style in each area. The fifth chapter will explore the bronze hu's ritual role and its rise and fall. The areas will cover sets of bronze ritual vessels，sexual difference，social classes，and the social ritual value’s transformation etc. about hu. From the Shang Dynasty，the bronze hu development can tell us the key forms of these works are closely related to the political power of each era. This tell us artistic expansions and domination needs strong political powers support. The more powerful the political power，the more influential the artworks have. From the development of the bronze hu's view point，even though there was the territorial style differences and the different culture which would affect the ritual differences，but these “differences”were usually almost became similar. It mutely but also strongly stated that behind each historical stage there is an unseen guiding force leading it. This guiding force integrate the development of the form and the ritual system of each and every territory，although there may have some traction from the local culture，but its influence is very limited.