The World of Deities: An Introduction to Bronze Mirror (Selected)

Bronze mirror with deities and sacred beasts designs refers to a type of ancient mirror decorating traditional Chinese deities such as the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) and sacred beasts such as loongs (Chinese Seraphim), tigers, and birds with high-relief carving technique. It first appeared in the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220), was popular from the end of the Eastern Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period (AD220-280), and lasted until the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD420-589). According to the decorative content and composition, it can be divided into ring-shaped mirror, opposed type mirror, mirror with ribbon pattern, and mirror with rearranged pattern, etc. With complicated craftsmanship, exquisite conception and profound ideological connotation, the mirror occupies an extremely important position in the history of Chinese bronze mirrors.