The earliest Chinese bronzes were made by the method known as
piece-mold casting
—as opposed to the lost-wax method, which was used in all other Bronze Age cultures. In piece-mold casting, a model is made of the object to be cast, and a clay mold taken of the model.
What was bronze casting in ancient China?
In the China’s ancient ritualistic society, bronze was used primarily for
casting ceremonial temple vessels used in sacrifices to the gods of heaven
, earth, the mountains and rivers. They were also used in vessels for banquets, awarding ceremonies and noble funerals.
How are Shang era bronze pieces cast?
They were cast
using ceramic piece molds
, built around a clay model. The molds were imprinted with designs from the model, then the model was cut or carved down to allow for bronze to be poured in the empty space between the model and the molds.
What bronze weapons did the Shang dynasty use?
Bronze and stones weapons were an integral part of Shang society, and Shang infantry were armed with
máo (矛) spears, yuè (鉞) pole-axes, gē (戈) pole-based dagger-axes, composite bows, and bronze or leather helmets
.
Did the Shang dynasty have bronze?
Shang Dynasty
artisans created sophisticated bronze works
, ceramics and trinkets made from jade. Unlike their Bronze Age counterparts, artisans during the Shang Dynasty used piece-mold casting as opposed to the lost-wax method.
Who defeated the Shang dynasty?
The Battle of Muye or Battle of Mu ( c. 1046 BC) was a battle fought in ancient China between the rebel Zhou state and the reigning Shang dynasty.
The Zhou army
, led by Ji Fa, defeated the defending army of King Zhou of Shang at Muye and captured the Shang capital Yin, ending the Shang dynasty.
Who invented bronze?
Around 3500 BC the first signs of bronze usage by
the ancient Sumerians
started to appear in the Tigris Euphrates valley in Western Asia. One theory suggests that bronze may have been discovered when copper and tin-rich rocks were used to build campfire rings.
What did Shang use bronze for?
The era of the Shang and the Zhou dynasties is generally known as the Bronze Age of China, because bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, used to
fashion weapons, parts of chariots, and ritual vessels
, played an important role in the material culture of the time.
What religion was the Shang Dynasty?
Folk religion during the Shang dynasty was
polytheistic
, meaning the people worshipped many gods. This bronze sculpture of a human head with gold leaf is typical of the bronze artwork created during the Shang dynasty. Ancestor worship was also very important to the Shang.
What did the Shang Dynasty make out of bronze?
In that time, Shang and Chou craftsmen learned to use bronze for more than weapons. They made
tools out of bronze
. This helped farmers and craftsmen and miners produce more food, goods, and minerals. They made bowls, bells, drums, cups, axes, and many other things out of bronze.
What was the longest lasting Chinese dynasty?
The Zhou dynasty
was the longest of ancient China’s dynasties. It lasted from 1046 to 256 B.C.E. Some of ancient China’s most important writers and philosophers lived during this period, including Confucius and the first Taoist thinkers. The years from 476 to 221 B.C.E.
Why were the Shang armies so powerful?
The Shang made many objects out of bronze, including ceremonial tools, swords, and spearheads for the military. The Shang also domesticated horses and
developed the chariot
, which gave them a massive military advantage over their opponents.
Why did Shang kings use Oracle Bones?
The Shang people used oracle bones
to communicate with ancestors and deities
, who were believed to have the power to bestow fortune, disasters and guidance on the living world. At the royal court, the oracle bones divination was carried out by trusted ‘diviners’ or by the king and other members of the royal family.
Why did the Shang Dynasty fall?
The End of the Shang
The Zhou conquerors claimed to overthrow the Shang Dynasty for moral reasons. They said that
the Shang king was evil
and that heaven no longer wanted him to rule. They blamed the Shang’s downfall on its king’s excessive drinking, indulgent lifestyle, and immoral behavior.
What is bronze made of and how were tools or masks made from bronze?
The Bronze Age was the time when men learned how
to mine and smelt copper and tin
to make bronze weapons and tools. These activities required an organized labor force and skilled craftsmen. In Neolithic times (before the Bronze Age), people had made tools out of stone and hunted and gathered their food.
How did the Shang Dynasty get water?
Life during the Shang Dynasty
A large irrigation scheme was constructed to bring the
water from the Yellow River to the crops
. They also kept sheep, pigs and oxen.
