漢代筆記 vol.10 藍理捷：西漢鎏金銅羊鎮，對比布魯克林博物館、六朝鎏金羊 - J.J.Lally, A Western Han Gilt Bronze Ram-Form Weight, compare with Brooklyn Museum & Six Dynasties Ram
- SACA
- Feb 13
- 7 min read
西漢 鎏金銅羊鎮
長：8.6 厘米
藍理捷舊藏，2011
此件羊鎮雕刻精細，呈現安靜的臥姿，頭部微微轉向左側並稍微抬起，三條腿緊貼身體，唯獨一條後腿則以圓形雕刻，肌肉結構流暢，尾巴小巧而以抽象形式呈現，捲曲於臀部，兩只大角強而有力，深深的脈絡清晰可見，表面覆蓋著鎏金，顯示出自然的磨損，露出青銅本色，並帶有些微的綠色結晶與溫暖的紅棕色包漿，內部填充有鉛合金。
在漢代，中國人習慣於在地上鋪設編織的草墊坐著。雕刻的重物通常會放置於草墊的四角，既作為一種奢華的裝飾，也是一種身份的象徵。羊的形象在中國文化中象徵著吉祥，因為“羊”（yang）一詞的發音與“吉祥”（xiang）的發音相近，且羊自古以來便是中國藝術中的常見題材。
與此件形態相似的鎏金銅羊鎮曾在河北一座西漢墓中出土，該件作品在孫承志所著《漢代鎮儀圖錄》（《文物》1983年第6期，第70頁，圖7）中有線條圖示。另一件形態相似的銅羊鎮則出土於湖北江陵的楚國墓葬中，該件作品見於《考古》1980年第5期，第5版：1圖。
關於古代中國衡器的形式及其功能，請參見王玨於2006年在波士頓伊莎貝拉·斯圖爾特·加德納博物館舉辦的展覽目錄《青銅動物園：中國早期的草墊衡器》。
鎏金羊鎮問答
西漢鎏金銅羊鎮的功能及象徵
這件物品是一件精心製作的小型羊雕塑，使用青銅製成，表面覆蓋了金箔（鎏金）。它的用途並非像現代的秤重工具，而是作為裝飾性和象徵性質的重物。
這些重物被放置在坐墊四角，這些坐墊通常是人們在西漢時期使用的座位形式，代替了椅子。這些羊形重物同時具有奢華裝飾和身份象徵的雙重功能。
羊形象的象徵意義
羊在中國文化中具有重要的象徵意義。中文中“羊”（yang）一詞的發音與“吉祥”（xiang）一詞相近，這使得羊成為吉祥和繁榮的象徵。此外，羊自古以來便是中國藝術中常見的題材，進一步加強了這件物品的文化意義。
該件羊形重物的具體特徵
這件鎏金銅羊鎮長約8.6厘米（3 3/8 英寸），描繪了一隻臥羊，頭部稍微轉向左側並微微抬起。三條腿緊貼身體，另一條後腿則呈現立體雕刻。羊的身體線條流暢，尾巴小巧並向下捲曲，兩只大角強而有力，且有深刻的脈絡。鎏金表面顯示出自然磨損，露出青銅底層，並有些微的綠色結晶與溫暖的紅棕色包漿，內部填充鉛合金增重。
該物品的工藝及技術背景
此件物品的雕刻和鎏金技術展示了西漢時期工匠的高超技藝。這件羊鎮的鑄造使用了失蠟鑄造技術，並且鎏金工藝的應用展示了金屬加工和裝飾藝術的熟練掌握。羊的造型生動，展現了工匠對動物解剖結構和美學的深入理解。
類似的羊形重物出土地點
類似的羊形重物也在其他西漢時期的遺址中被發現。例如，一件相似的銅羊鎮在河北的一座西漢墓中出土，該物品在1983年《文物》雜誌的刊登中有線條圖示。另外，湖北江陵的楚國墓中也發現了一件形態相似的銅羊鎮，該物品見於1980年《考古》雜誌。這顯示出這類物品在當時的廣泛使用和重要性。
這件重物的製作材料
這件重物主要由青銅製成，表面覆蓋了金箔（鎏金）。其內部填充了鉛合金（鉛合金是鉛與其他金屬的合金），以增重。這些材料的選擇不僅反映了對耐用性和美學的追求，還體現了對金屬和合金特性的理解。
這件羊形重物對西漢時期日常生活的啟示
這件羊形重物揭示了西漢時期的日常生活習俗和社會階層。人們坐在草墊上而非椅子，並在墊子四角放置重物作為裝飾，這表明了當時的生活方式。該物品同時作為一件裝飾藝術品和身份象徵，反映了當時社會階層和個人社會地位的追求。羊作為吉祥象徵的使用，也顯示了信仰對物質文化的影響。
同款參考：
布魯克林博物館
ACCESSION NUMBER 1991.127.9
CREDIT LINE Gift of Alan and Simone Hartman
私人收藏
六朝 鎏金羊
高 5.8cm
ボリューム満点で、内から力が溢れ出てくるような造形で優れた雕刻である。古銅と金の色の味わいが何ともいえない魅力がある。
這是一件充滿份量的雕塑，內部似乎充滿了力量，造型極具表現力，且具有出色的雕刻工藝。古銅與金色的色調交織，散發出一種無法言喻的魅力。
商代 羊觥
A Gilt Bronze Ram-Form Weight
Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – A.D. 8)
the recumbent animal well modelled in a quiet pose with head turned to the left and slightly raised, with three legs held in close to the body and one hind leg modelled in the round, the muscular body smoothly contoured and the small, stylized tail curled down at the rump, the large horns powerfully curved and deeply ribbed, the richly gilded surface showing natural wear exposing the bronze beneath, with some light green encrustation and warm reddish-brown patination, the interior filled with lead amalgam.
Length 3 3⁄8 inches (8.6 cm)
In Han China people customarily sat on woven mats on the floor. Sculpted weights were placed at the corners of the floor mat as a luxurious decoration and a display of rank. The image of a ram is symbolic of good fortune in China because the pronunciation of the word for “ram” (yang) closely mimics the pronunciation of the word for “auspicious” (xiang); and the ram has been a popular image in Chinese art since antiquity.
Compare the similarly modelled bronze ram-form weight excavated from a Western Han tomb in Hebei, illustrated in a line drawing by Sun, “Han zhen yishu” (Notes on the Design and Manufacture of Weights in the Han Dynasty), Wenwu, 1983, No. 6, p. 70, fig. 7. Another similar bronze ram-form weight excavated from a Chu State tomb in Jiangling, Hubei is illustrated in Kaogu, 1980, No. 5, pl. 5:1.
For a discussion of the forms of ancient Chinese weights and their function, see the catalogue of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum exhibition by Wang, A Bronze Menagerie: Mat Weights of Early China, Boston, 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Western Han Gilt Bronze Ram-Form Weight
What is the Western Han Gilt Bronze Ram-Form Weight and what was its function?
This object is a meticulously crafted, small sculpture of a ram, made from bronze and covered with gold leaf (gilt). It dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - A.D. 8). These weights were not primarily used for weighing objects in the way we think of weights today. Instead, they served as decorative and symbolic weights, placed at the corners of woven mats on which people sat. These mats, used in lieu of chairs, were common in Han China, and these weights functioned both as luxury decorations and markers of social status.
What is the significance of the ram imagery in this object?
The ram image holds significant symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. The Chinese word for "ram" (yang) sounds similar to the word for "auspicious" or "good fortune" (xiang). This phonetic similarity makes the ram a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Furthermore, rams have been a popular subject in Chinese art throughout history, adding to the object's cultural importance.
What are the physical characteristics of this particular ram-form weight?
This specific gilt bronze ram weight is about 8.6 cm (3 3/8 inches) long. It depicts a recumbent ram with its head slightly turned to the left and raised. Three of its legs are tucked close to its body, while the fourth hind leg is more three-dimensional. The ram's body is smoothly contoured, it has a small, stylized tail curled at its rump, and prominently curved horns which are deeply ribbed. The gold plating shows natural wear, revealing the bronze underneath, with some light green encrustation and warm reddish-brown patination. The interior is filled with a lead amalgam for added weight.
How does the craftsmanship of this object reflect the artistic and technological capabilities of the Western Han Dynasty?
The level of detail and skill evident in the sculpting and gilding of this ram-form weight showcase the advanced artistic and technological abilities of artisans during the Western Han Dynasty. The use of lost-wax casting techniques for creating the bronze form, coupled with the application of gold leaf, demonstrates mastery over both metalworking and decorative arts. The lifelike rendering of the animal's form indicates a sophisticated understanding of anatomy and aesthetics.
Where have similar ram-form weights been discovered?
Similar ram-form weights have been discovered at other Western Han Dynasty sites. One example was excavated from a tomb in Hebei province, which was documented in the 1983 publication of Wenwu magazine. Another comparable example was found in a Chu State tomb in Jiangling, Hubei, which was reported in a 1980 issue of Kaogu magazine. This indicates the widespread use and importance of these objects during this period.
What materials were used in creating this weight?
This weight was primarily constructed from bronze, which was then gilded (covered with gold leaf). The interior was filled with a lead amalgam, a mixture or alloy of lead, to add to the overall weight of the piece. These material choices suggest not only a desire for durability and aesthetic appeal but also an understanding of the properties of metals and their alloys.
How does this ram-form weight provide insights into the daily life and customs of the Western Han Dynasty?
The ram-form weight reveals details about the domestic practices and social hierarchies of the Western Han Dynasty. The practice of sitting on woven mats on the floor is demonstrated by the mat weights being used as decorations for the mat corners, providing insights into their daily lifestyle. The object's dual function as both a decorative piece and a symbol of status provides a glimpse into the social aspirations and hierarchical systems of the period. The value placed on good fortune and auspicious symbols, as embodied by the ram, shows how beliefs influenced material culture.
Where can I learn more about ancient Chinese weights?
For further exploration into the function and design of ancient Chinese weights, you can refer to the catalogue of the exhibition "A Bronze Menagerie: Mat Weights of Early China" by Wang, held at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 2006. This exhibition provides more comprehensive background information on this class of artifacts.
Comments