The present paper makes a study of the Dian people’s bronze buttons, a type of article representing the Bronze Age Dian culture. Typologically these ornaments can be divided into three kinds: round, rectangular and n...The present paper makes a study of the Dian people’s bronze buttons, a type of article representing the Bronze Age Dian culture. Typologically these ornaments can be divided into three kinds: round, rectangular and natural being representing; in terms of technological and artistical features, there are plain and pattern-decorated artifacts and those inlaid with flat, relieved and openworked jewels. According textual records and 14C dating, they first appeared in the late Spring and Autumn period, prevailed during Warring States and QinHan times, and vanished in the early Eastern Han. Analysing the content represented on the Dian Bronze buttons, the author classifies all the themes into two categories. One of them reflects the social life of the Dian people; the other comprises animal figures and interlacing or mutually biting scenes. The paper discusses the making techniques and aesthetic features of these objects. Concerning their relationship with North Chinese belt ornaments, the author puts forward that the Dian people’s buttons originated from the Dian’s Bronze culture and went through Their own evolutionary course. They had no relation of inheritance and derivation with Ordos belt buckles and ornaments, though sharing certain commonness with the latter in material drawing.展开更多
文摘The present paper makes a study of the Dian people’s bronze buttons, a type of article representing the Bronze Age Dian culture. Typologically these ornaments can be divided into three kinds: round, rectangular and natural being representing; in terms of technological and artistical features, there are plain and pattern-decorated artifacts and those inlaid with flat, relieved and openworked jewels. According textual records and 14C dating, they first appeared in the late Spring and Autumn period, prevailed during Warring States and QinHan times, and vanished in the early Eastern Han. Analysing the content represented on the Dian Bronze buttons, the author classifies all the themes into two categories. One of them reflects the social life of the Dian people; the other comprises animal figures and interlacing or mutually biting scenes. The paper discusses the making techniques and aesthetic features of these objects. Concerning their relationship with North Chinese belt ornaments, the author puts forward that the Dian people’s buttons originated from the Dian’s Bronze culture and went through Their own evolutionary course. They had no relation of inheritance and derivation with Ordos belt buckles and ornaments, though sharing certain commonness with the latter in material drawing.
