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Chinese Bronze Mirrors

  • Image of "Bronze Mirror, with design of TLV pattern and coiling snakes, China, Western Han dynasty, 2nd century BC "

    Bronze Mirror, with design of TLV pattern and coiling snakes, China, Western Han dynasty, 2nd century BC

    Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 4
    March 3, 2009 (Tue) - June 7, 2009 (Sun)

    This display features representative examples of ancient Chinese bronze mirrors from the Museum collection. Bronze is an alloy of copper, tin and lead, and appear either gold or silver in color. When polished, it is highly reflective, which led to its worldwide use as a material for making mirrors prior to the development of glass. Bronze mirrors were usually decorated with a variety of designs.

    In China, bronze mirrors became widely used during the Warring States period (5th century BC - 3rd century BC). The designs on ancient Chinese mirrors were often of an auspicious nature, and were believed to bring good luck. From the Han dynasty (3rd century BC - 3rd century AD) onward, mirrors often featured inscriptions of auspicious words.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Bronze Mirror, with design of deities and Chariots, China, Eastern Han dynasty - Three Kingdoms period, 2nd - 3rd century
Bronze Mirror, with lions and grapes, China, Tang dynasty, 7th - 8th century
 Related Events

Gallery Talk "Ancient Chinese Mirrors"
Ancient Chinese Mirrors
Room 20, Honkan
April 7, 2009, 14:00
Speaker: Tani Toyonobu, Senior Curator of Chinese Archaeology (In Japanese)
Exhibitions