scholarly journals Technical Features of A Ninth-Century Silver Vessel of Southern China Uncovered From Famen Monastery, Shaanxi Province

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panpan Tan ◽  
Junchang Yang ◽  
Xinlai Ren
Keyword(s):  
Tang Dynasty ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Shaanxi Province ◽  
Tool Marks ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Cu Alloy ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
The Tang Dynasty ◽  
Technical Features

Abstract Silver art is an important feature of the Tang dynasty in China and the manufacturing center for silver shifted from north to south after the mid-8th century CE. The typology, stylistics and iconography of silver vessels from both regions have been studied in detail. Moreover, the analysis of northern-origin silver vessels has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, the technological characteristics of southern silver vessels are unknown. The current work presents a non-invasive scientific analysis on a partially-gilded silver box from Jiangnanxidao of Tang (China), which was uncovered from the pagoda crypt of the Famen Monastery in Fufeng County, Shaanxi province. The analytical results reveal that the box was made of high-quality silver, smelted by cupellation, and composed of five pieces, which were bonded together with some sort of a soldering alloy. The ring foot was brazed to the bottom of box with Ag–Cu alloy. Hammering, brazing, engraving, repoussé, tracing and partial fire-gilding were employed to shape and decorate the box. One should note that these techniques are commonly observed in Tang silver vessels. Besides, the production and decorative procedures were identified through the tool marks. More strikingly, the comparison of tracing details between the southern box, presented here, and the previously reported northern silver vessels demonstrates that the former is more precise in terms of decorative details. Moreover, the similarities in motif expressions of southern-origin silver vessels after the mid-8th century and northern-origin silver vessels before the mid-8th century reflect the inheritance of decorative style, whilst the differences in technical skills indicate the evolution of decorative techniques, which attained high perfection by the southern silversmiths after the downfall of northern China. The current study presents novel insights into the silver technology of southern China during the late Tang dynasty.

scholarly journals Technical features of a ninth-century silver vessel of southern China uncovered from Famen Monastery, Shaanxi province

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panpan Tan ◽  
Junchang Yang ◽  
Xinlai Ren
Keyword(s):  
Tang Dynasty ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Eighth Century ◽  
Shaanxi Province ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Cu Alloy ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
The Tang Dynasty ◽  
Technical Details ◽  
Technical Features

AbstractSilver art is an important feature of the Tang dynasty in China and the manufacturing center for silver shifted from north to south after the mid-eighth century CE. The typology, stylistics, and iconography of silver vessels from both regions have been studied in detail. However, their technical characteristics have rarely been discussed, in particular, those of the southern ones. The current study presents a non-invasive scientific analysis on a partially-gilded silver box from Jiangnanxidao of Tang (southern China), uncovered from the pagoda crypt of the Famen Monastery, Shaanxi province. The results reveal that the box was made of refined silver from cupellation, and composed of five pieces, brazed together with hard solder. Ag–Cu alloy was identified to braze the ring foot and the box bottom. Brazing, hammering, engraving, repoussé, chasing, punching, and partial fire-gilding were employed to shape and decorate the box. More strikingly, the comparative analysis of technical details between this southern box and the previously reported northern silver vessels demonstrates that the former is more precise. Moreover, the similarities in motif expressions of southern-origin silver vessels after the mid-eighth century CE and northern-origin silver vessels before the mid-eighth century CE reflect the inheritance of decorative style. These differences and inheritance indicate that southern artisans after the mid-eighth century CE inherited the decorative technology of the northern-origin silver vessels before the mid-eighth century CE and developed them to greater perfection. The current study presents novel insights into the silver technology of southern China during the late Tang dynasty.

scholarly journals FEMALE SCULPTURES OF TANG MONGOLIA (BASED ON MATERIALS FROM ULAAN HARAM SHAROON BUMBAGAR BARROW)

2021 ◽  
pp. 132-143
Author(s):  
Алексей Игнатьевич Бураев
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Tang Dynasty ◽  
Fine Arts ◽  
Shaanxi Province ◽  
Burial Mound ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Female Figures ◽  
The Tang Dynasty ◽  
Made In

В статье проанализированы женские скульптурные изображения из кургана Улан Харам Шороон бумбагар в Баяннуур сомоне Булганского аймака Монголии. В погребении обнаружены в том числе и женские фигуры из терракоты. В настоящее время все материалы находятся на хранении в музее г. Хархорин. Характеристика керамической микропластики дана согласно апробированной автором схеме описания вотивных скульптур, с учетом гендерных различий. Цель публикации — введение в научный оборот сведений об особенностях женских средневековых изображений тюркского времени, выполненных их современниками. Дана характеристика 13 керамических фигур, выполненных в полный рост. В описании дана характеристика материала изготовления; приводятся инвентарные номера и размеры согласно документации музея; отмечается степень сохранности фигур; дано описание костюма, причесок, деталей макияжа; характеризуются антропологические особенности скульптурных изображений; дана расовая и, по возможности, этническая идентификация прототипов изображений. В статье отмечена схожесть находок (керамическая микропластика) из исследуемого погребения с изученными ранее материалами из кургана Шороон бумбагар в Замар сомоне Центрального аймака Монголии (хранящихся в Музее изобразительных искусств им. Г. Занабазара, г. Улан-Батор, Монголия). Кроме того, по всей видимости идентичные скульптурные изображения обнаружены при раскопках на северо-западе Китая погребения, датируемого периодом правления династии Тан, у деревни Яньцунь района Сисянь провинции Шэньси. Усыпальница принадлежит Сюэ Шао, первому мужу принцессы Тайпин, дочери императора Гаоцзуна. Исследование скульптурных материалов из баяннурского кургана позволило зафиксировать внешний облик знатных женщин эпохи средневековья из центральноазиатских степей. Компаративный анализ подтвердил уточненную датировку кургана последней четвертью VII в. н. э., что соответствует тюркскому времени в период господства империи Тан. Анализ статуэток позволил сделать вывод о возможном присутствии как южносибирского (тюркского), так и восточноазиатского (китайского) компонентов среди прототипов женских изображений. Новые данные позволили расширить знания о населении центральноазиатских степей в эпоху гегемонии империи Тан. The article analyzes female sculptural images from the Ulaan Haram Sharoon Bumbagar barrow in the Bayannuur Somon of the Bulgan aimag in Mongolia. Among other things, female figures made of terracotta were found in the burial. All materials are currently stored in the Kharkhorin museum. The characteristics of ceramic microplastics are given according to the author's approved scheme for describing votive sculptures, taking into account gender differences. The purpose of the publication is to introduce the scientific circulation of information about the features of female medieval images of the Turkic time, made by their contemporaries. The characteristics of 13 ceramic figures made in full growth are given. The characteristics of ceramic microplastics are given according to the author's approved scheme for describing votive sculptures, taking into account gender differences. The purpose of the publication is to introduce the scientific circulation of information about the features of female medieval images of the Turkic time, made by their contemporaries. The characteristics of 13 ceramic figures made in full growth are given. The description provides the characteristics of the manufacturing material; inventory numbers and sizes are given according to the museum's documentation; the degree of safety of the figures is noted; a description of the costume, hairstyles, makeup details is given; the anthropological features of sculptural images are characterized; the racial and, if possible, ethnic identification of the prototypes of the images is given. The article notes the similarity of finds (ceramic microplastics) from the investigated burial with previously studied materials from the Shoroon bumbagar mound in Zamar somon of the Central aimag of Mongolia (stored in the G. Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, Ulan Bator, Mongolia). In addition, apparently identical sculptural images were found during excavations in northwestern China of a burial dating from the Tang Dynasty, near the village of Yancun, Xixian District, Shaanxi Province. The tomb belongs to Xue Shao, the first husband of Princess Taiping, daughter of Emperor Gaozong. The study of the sculptural materials from the Bayannur burial mound made it possible to record the appearance of noblewomen of the Middle Ages from the Central Asian steppes. The comparative analysis confirmed the updated date of the mound to the last quarter of the 7th century AD, which corresponds to the Turkic time during the reign of the Tang Empire. The analysis of the statuettes made it possible to draw a conclusion about the possible presence of both South Siberian (Turkic) and East Asian (Chinese) components among the prototypes of female images. New data made it possible to expand knowledge about the population of the Central Asian steppes during the era of hegemony of the Tang Empire.

COASTAL ALTERATION AND CHANGES IN SHORELINE MORPHOLOGY DUE TO ARTIFICIAL STRUCTURES IN MIIRAKU TOWN ON FUKUE IS. IN THE GOTO ARCHIPELAGO

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Sakamoto ◽  
Ryo Sakamoto ◽  
Satoquo Seino ◽  
Satoquo Seino ◽  
Hirokazu Suzaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tang Dynasty ◽  
National Park ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Sand Transport ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Tang Dynasty ◽  
Coastal Changes ◽  
Century Poetry ◽  
Nagasaki Prefecture

A construction of breakwaters and other shoreline structures on part of a coast influences drift sand transport in the bay, and causes comprehensive topographic changes on the beach. This study investigated shoreline and coastal changes, taking as an example of Shiraragahama Beach in Miiraku on the northwestern end of Fukue Island, Nagasaki Prefecture (Kyushu, Japan). Miiraku, adjacent to Saikai National Park, appears in the revered 8th century poetry collection “Manyoshu” and served as a port for a ship taken by the Japanese envoy to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-709). Because of the recent development of breakwaters for a fishing harbor, the shore environments of this beach have changed significantly. In this study, the status of silt deposits and topographic changes on this beach arising from the construction of a harbor breakwater were evaluated by comparing aerial photographs taken in different years. Next, the changes in the shoreline visible from aerial photographs from 1947 to 2014 were analyzed. Lastly, the altitude of the beaches was measured using accurate survey methods. The following results were obtained: 1) coastal erosion made rock cliffs to fall off along the shore and deposited sand on this beach; 2) the more serious advances or retreats of the shoreline took place around shoreline structures; 3) sandbars and beach cliffs were formed.

Spatial variation of East Asian winter monsoon evolution between northern and southern China since the last glacial maximum

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Qin Li ◽  
Haibin Wu ◽  
Jun Cheng ◽  
Shuya Zhu ◽  
Chunxia Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asian Winter Monsoon ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Winter Monsoon ◽  
Asian Winter Monsoon ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
The Last Glacial Maximum ◽  
The Last Glacial

Abstract The East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) is one of the most dynamic components of the global climate system. Although poorly understood, knowledge of long-term spatial differences in EAWM variability during the glacial–interglacial cycles is important for understanding the dynamic processes of the EAWM. We reconstructed the spatiotemporal characteristics of the EAWM since the last glacial maximum (LGM) using a comparison of proxy records and long-term transient simulations. A loess grain-size record from northern China (a sensitive EAWM proxy) and the sea surface temperature gradient of an EAWM index in sediments of the southern South China Sea were compared. The data–model comparison indicates pronounced spatial differences in EAWM evolution, with a weakened EAWM since the LGM in northern China but a strengthened EAWM from the LGM to the early Holocene, followed by a weakening trend, in southern China. The model results suggest that variations in the EAWM in northern China were driven mainly by changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, whereas orbital insolation and ice sheets were important drivers in southern China. We propose that the relative importance of insolation, ice sheets, and atmospheric CO2 for EAWM evolution varied spatially within East Asia.

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