Animals in Ancient Chinese Bronzes

The Shang dynastythe earliest Chinese dynasty verified by scholars, ruling from ca. 1600 to 1050 BCE. (ca. 1600–1050 BCE) marked the middle of China’s Bronze Agea period of human culture characterized by the initial use of weapons, tools, and other objects made of bronze., which first began around 2000 BCE. Bronzea mixture of copper, tin, and often lead that produces a strong metal. played an important role in the agricultural, religious, and military life of the Shang(shahng) period. Religious rites, which included human and animal sacrifices, also included offerings of wine and food presented in decorated bronze vessels. These rituala set pattern of behavior for a religious or other kind of ceremony. bronze vessels were frequently buried with members of the royal family of the Shang state. Many bronze vessels, weapons, tools, and even musical instruments (bells) of that period have been unearthed. These buried bronze objects demonstrate high levels of technology and castingan object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a mold. skills. Shang people used a piece-mold castinga technique used for casting bronzes. After a desired vessel was fashioned from clay, it was covered with an additional layer of clay that, when dried, was carefully cut away in matching vertical sections (usually three or four) to create the casting molds. The original clay model was then shaved down for the interior core, and the mold sections were reassembled around it to make the outer walls. The space between the core and outer molds was then filled with molten bronze. In many cases, the joins between mold sections appear as raised ribs on the exterior of finished bronzes. After the bronze cooled, the clay molds were broken and removed, and the vessel was polished to take away flaws and any metal that had seeped into gaps between the mold sections. technique to create different types of bronzes. These vessels not only functioned as a symbola shape or design that is recognizable and has a meaning associated with it. of power, wealth, and luxury but also revealed a great degree of creativity, efficiency, and innovation.

One of the excellent examples of Shang dynastya series of rulers from a single family. bronze casting from the Freer Gallery’s collection is a ritual ewera jug or pitcher to hold water or wine. shaped as a small elephant standing on top of a larger elephant’s back. Liquid was stored in the larger elephant’s belly and poured from the trunk. The smaller elephant served as a knob for the vessel’s lid. The ewer is decorated with different ornaments, depicting mythical creatures, such as dragons or zoomorphicshaped like an animal. masks called taotie(t-ow-tee-eh) a stylized monster face-mask design pattern commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzes with symmetrically arranged eyes, ears, horns, snout, and jaw.. Taotie typically consists of eyes, jaw, beak or fang, snout, crest, horn, legs, and tail. The taotie face pattern is usually frontal and symmetricala mirror image in which objects on one side of an imaginary line are exactly like objects on the other side., but its body is shown in profile. Although animal-shaped bronze vessels were relatively rare in the Shang state’s capital, located in the northern Yellow River valley, people who lived in the southern Yangzi(yahng dz) River region showed their appreciation of animals by creating animal-shaped bronzes.

ancestorsomeone from whom you are descended. In Western thought, it is usually more distant than a grandparent; however, in Chinese culture, deceased parents and grandparents are considered ancestors.: someone from whom you are descended. In Western thought, it is usually more distant than a grandparent; however, in Chinese culture, deceased parents and grandparents are considered ancestors.

bronzea mixture of copper, tin, and often lead that produces a strong metal.: a mixture of coppera soft malleable metal of a pinkish-orange color with high thermal and electrical conductivity., tina silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 50., and often lead that produces a strong metal.

Bronze Agea period of human culture characterized by the initial use of weapons, tools, and other objects made of bronze.: a period of human culture characterized by the initial use of weapons, tools, and other objects made of bronze. Changes in material culture engendered profound alterations in social, political, and economic systems. The Chinese Bronze Age is dated between about 1800 and about 300 BCE.

castingan object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a mold.:  an object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a moldan outer housing used to shape an object..

coiling methodone of the oldest techniques for making pottery. Coils of clay are layered on top of each other and then pressed together.: one of the oldest techniques for making pottery vessels. Coils of clay are layered on top of each other and then pressed together.

ewera jug or pitcher to hold water or wine.: a pouring vessela container such as a cup, bowl, pot, or dish. like a jug or pitcher used to hold water or wine.

mold: an outer housing used to shape an object.

motifa repeating design, pattern, or image.: a repeating design, pattern, or image.

ornamentan object or motif used for decorative purposes.: an object or motif used for decorative purposes.

piece-mold castinga technique used for casting bronzes. After a desired vessel was fashioned from clay, it was covered with an additional layer of clay that, when dried, was carefully cut away in matching vertical sections (usually three or four) to create the casting molds. The original clay model was then shaved down for the interior core, and the mold sections were reassembled around it to make the outer walls. The space between the core and outer molds was then filled with molten bronze. In many cases, the joins between mold sections appear as raised ribs on the exterior of finished bronzes. After the bronze cooled, the clay molds were broken and removed, and the vessel was polished to take away flaws and any metal that had seeped into gaps between the mold sections.: a technique used for casting bronzes. After a desired vessel was fashioned from clay, it was covered with an additional layer of clay that, when dried, was carefully cut away in matching vertical sections (usually three or four) to create the casting molds. The original clay model was then shaved down for the interior core, and the mold sections were reassembled around it to make the outer walls. The space between the core and outer molds was then filled with molten bronze. In many cases, the joins between mold sections appear as raised ribs on the exterior of finished bronzes. After the bronze cooled, the clay molds were broken and removed, and the vessel was polished to take away flaws and any metal that had seeped into gaps between the mold sections.

pinch-pot methodone of the oldest techniques for making pottery. The shape of a vessel is created by pinching the walls with one’s fingers.: one of the oldest techniques for making pottery. The shape of a vessel is created by pinching the walls with one’s fingers.

reliefthree-dimensional forms that protrude from a flat surface.: three-dimensional forms that protrude from a flat surface.

rituala set pattern of behavior for a religious or other kind of ceremony.: a set pattern of behavior for a religious or other kind of ceremony.

symbola shape or design that is recognizable and has a meaning associated with it.: a sign, drawing, word, or design that represents an idea or an act.

symmetricala mirror image in which objects on one side of an imaginary line are exactly like objects on the other side.: a mirror image in which objects on one side of an imaginary middle line are exactly like objects on the other side.

taotie(t-ow-tee-eh) a stylized monster face-mask design pattern commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzes with symmetrically arranged eyes, ears, horns, snout, and jaw.: a stylized animal face-mask pattern commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzes with symmetrically arranged eyes, ears, horns, snout, and jaw.

vessel: a container such as a cup, bowl, pot, or dish.

zoomorphicshaped like an animal.: shaped like an animal.

Materials for Students:

• Air-dry clay (4–12 oz. per student)
• Watercolors, paint brushes, and cups of water to share
• Black fine point sharpie (one per student)

Instructional Materials:

• 3-D Model: https://3d.si.edu/model/fullscreen/p2b-1530967613522-1531003309191-0
• Teacher sample
• One 8 x 11-inch white paper printed with an example of a taotie(t-ow-tee-eh) a stylized monster face-mask design pattern commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzes with symmetrically arranged eyes, ears, horns, snout, and jaw. pattern and a blank box for students to design their own taotie

Day 1

1. Present the 3-D image of the rituala set pattern of behavior for a religious or other kind of ceremony. ewera jug or pitcher to hold water or wine. (huo(hoo-o-uh)) in the form of two elephants to the students and engage the class with the Describe questions.
2. Engage the students with the Analyze and Interpret questions.
3. Show the students the following video of the piece-mold castinga technique used for casting bronzes. After a desired vessel was fashioned from clay, it was covered with an additional layer of clay that, when dried, was carefully cut away in matching vertical sections (usually three or four) to create the casting molds. The original clay model was then shaved down for the interior core, and the mold sections were reassembled around it to make the outer walls. The space between the core and outer molds was then filled with molten bronze. In many cases, the joins between mold sections appear as raised ribs on the exterior of finished bronzes. After the bronze cooled, the clay molds were broken and removed, and the vessel was polished to take away flaws and any metal that had seeped into gaps between the mold sections. process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIRsk8-MgqA
4. Introduce the vocabulary term taotie(t-ow-tee-eh) a stylized monster face-mask design pattern commonly found on ancient Chinese bronzes with symmetrically arranged eyes, ears, horns, snout, and jaw.. Have the students identify the taotie on the ewer.

Day 2

1. Show five additional images of bronzes in different animal forms (see the webpage for this lesson plan).
2. Have students observe each image and describe the characteristics of each animal.
3. Have students list 3–5 different animals they like and draw a picture next to the list.
4. Demonstrate the coiling methodone of the oldest techniques for making pottery. Coils of clay are layered on top of each other and then pressed together. for making a pot or vessela container such as a cup, bowl, pot, or dish..
5. Demonstrate the pinch-pot methodone of the oldest techniques for making pottery. The shape of a vessel is created by pinching the walls with one’s fingers. for making decorative parts of a pot or vessel.
6. Have students write down ideas and make sketches for their vessel.
7. Have students share their sketches and designs with their peers. Revision is allowed during the sharing and discussion time.
8. Distribute the air-dried clay to students.
9. Have students start to create their works (vessels in animal shape) according to their sketches using the coiling and pinching methods.
10. Examine each student’s work and give guidance.
11. Guide students to put the vessels away on the drying racks (with their names).
12. Guide students to put all materials and tools away. Clean the tables.

Day 3

1. Guide students to pick up their dried clay vessels and return to their seats.
2. Present three to five images of bronzea mixture of copper, tin, and often lead that produces a strong metal. vessels and guide students to observe different colors of the bronze.
3. Distribute watercolors to students and let students paint different green colors onto the vessel.
4. Have students draft their own taotie pattern on a paper or sketchbook while letting the watercolor paint dry. Remind students of the symmetricala mirror image in which objects on one side of an imaginary line are exactly like objects on the other side. feature of the taotie pattern.
5. Students can fold the 8 x 11 paper in half when they design their own taotie pattern and draw on one side. Then, they can use a window with natural light for tracing the other half of the taotie pattern for a symmetrical design.
6. Have students transfer the taotie pattern draft onto the clay vessels by using black sharpies.
7. Have students place their works on one table for discussion and critique. Engage students in a critique of the artworks.
8. Have students put tools and materials away.

Describe

• What do you see in this image?
• What shapes do you see?
• What else do you see on the surface of the object? How would you describe them?

Analyze

• What was the object made from? What makes you say that?
• How was this object made?
• How were those patterns and symbols made on the surface of the object?

Interpret

• What kinds of patterns do you see?
• Who do you think this object belonged to? What makes you say that?

Inquire

• What other bronze making processes do you know about? How are they different from making Shang dynasty bronzes?
• How do we honor our ancestors today?

Science

Research the compounds of bronzea mixture of copper, tin, and often lead that produces a strong metal., the oxidation process, and write about the variations of color in Shang dynastythe earliest Chinese dynasty verified by scholars, ruling from ca. 1600 to 1050 BCE. bronzes.

Technology

Document the step-by-step process of castingan object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a mold. and firing Shang(shahng) dynastya series of rulers from a single family. bronzes by drawing diagrams.

Engineering

3-D print the object.

Social Studies

Research how Shang people used these vessels in their daily lives and how religious beliefs at the time shaped society and social behaviors.

The Art and Archeology of Ancient China. A Teacher’s Guide. Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 2003, pp. 8, 33, 43, 52–54.
https://asia-archive.si.edu/visit/resources/china.asp

Smithsonian Digitization 3-D, Lidded ritual ewer.
https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/lidded-ritual-ewer-huo-form-elephant-masks-and-dragons%3Ad8c63598-4ebc-11ea-b77f-2e728ce88125

Ancient Chinese Bronzes (Freer Sackler).
https://asia-archive.si.edu/learn/ancient-chinese-bronzes/

Piece-mold casting process by the Art Institute of Chicago (Ding Vessel, 1'38", no audio).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIRsk8-MgqA

China, 2000–1000 BCE. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (Metropolitan Museum).
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/03/eac.html

Shang and Zhou Dynasties: The Bronze Age of China (Metropolitan Museum).
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shzh/hd_shzh.htm

How to create a bronze vessel (Princeton Art Museum).
https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/asian-art/archived/creating-a-bronze-vessel/