The ancient bronze mirrors in each dynasty had their unique characteristics. For example, the bronze mirrors of the Sui and Tang Dynasties had new developments compared with the previous generation. Tin is added to the silver-copper alloy with the texture of a bronze mirror, making it beautiful and functional.
1. The Tang Dynasty was a new historical era in the development history of bronze mirrors in China.
The bronze mirrors of the Sui and Tang Dynasties had new developments compared with the previous generation. The tin component is added to the copper alloy and silver, and is suitable for the texture of the copper mirror. In addition to continuing to use the circles and squares of previous generations in the form of bronze mirrors, they also created diamond flower patterns and bushy birds and beasts. And use pictures that can reflect people's lives and ideals, auspiciousness, pursuit of the Moon Palace, immortality and scenery. And fresh, beautiful and colorful colors include exquisite gold and silver mirrors and spiral mirrors. This is a work from the prosperous Tang Dynasty, which fully demonstrates the characteristics of Tang bronze mirrors.
2. The style of Spring and Autumn bronze mirrors inherits the tradition of bronze mirrors in the Western Zhou Dynasty.
For example, in the Spring and Autumn Period, bronze mirrors came in various styles. At the same time, there were many important developments in spring and autumn bronze mirrors. The circle of the ancient bronze mirror was broken, and the square mirror appeared. Only the sun changed the original bronze mirror pattern, and the simple composition created a transparent pattern. Spring and Autumn bronze mirrors catch up with the development of bronze ware, and decorative content is a characteristic of the times. This laid the foundation for the great development of nation-state bronze mirrors.
3. The bronze mirrors of the Han Dynasty are round, thin and flat mirrors, with round buttons and stylized decorations.
During this period, the placement of bronze mirrors was also more vivid and easier to distinguish between regions, usually with pictures and texts such as Changyi Gaoguan or Changyi descendants, as well as many auspicious words. At this time, the relief style was created and the decoration was higher. The main styles were crepe de chine mirrors, bat pattern mirrors, vertical mirrors and square mirrors.