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The evolution of auspicious beasts in the burial decoration of the Six-Dynasties Period and the formation of the “Jin System”

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Published/Copyright: November 18, 2017
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Chinese Archaeology
From the journal Chinese Archaeology Volume 17 Issue 1

Abstract

In the Six-Dynasties Period, the burial system of China underwent a process of development from the “Han System” to the “Jin System”. Both at ground level and within the underground structures, high-ranking burials of the Six-Dynasties Period all had sculptures or figures of mythical animals meant as guardians or quellers of evil. The motifs and styles of these included not only components inherited from the burials of the Han Dynasty, but also newly emergent cultural elements, and in particular a system of auspicious beasts represented by lions. This new auspicious beast complex was related to the prior “Han System” of burial decoration but also showed clear differences. These changes reflected the symbolic features expressed through the formation of the “Jin System” in another aspect. Their influence reached down to the burial systems of the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Keywords: Bixie (legendary beings); cultural communications; funeral rites and ceremonies; intercultural communication; qilin (legendary beings); sepulchral monuments--Six-Dynasties Period (229-589 CE)

Postscript

The original paper published in Kaogu 考古 (Archaeology) 2015.2:103–13 with three illustrations was authored by Wei Huo 霍巍. This abridged version is prepared by the author and translated into English by Nicholas Vogt 侯昱文.

References

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Published Online: 2017-11-18
Published in Print: 2017-12-20

© 2017 Walter de Gruyter, Inc. ⋅ Boston ⋅ Berlin

Articles in the same Issue

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  2. New archaeological discoveries
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  5. The Remains of Liangzhu Culture at Jiangzhuang Site in Xinghua and Dongtai Cities, Jiangsu
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  15. The archaeological survey and excavation of walls and passes of the Hailong Tun site in Zunyi City, Guizhou
  16. Reports
  17. The excavation of the Niupodong Site in Pingba District, Gui’an New Area, Guizhou in 2012–2013
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  23. The excavation of the Dadianshan Cemetery in Changning, Yunan
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  33. The evolution of auspicious beasts in the burial decoration of the Six-Dynasties Period and the formation of the “Jin System”
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https://doi.org/10.1515/char-2017-0016
Keywords for this article
Bixie (legendary beings); cultural communications; funeral rites and ceremonies; intercultural communication; qilin (legendary beings); sepulchral monuments--Six-Dynasties Period (229-589 CE)

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. New archaeological discoveries
  3. Neolithic cultural remains in the coastal area of southeastern Hainan Province
  4. New archaeological discoveries
  5. The Remains of Liangzhu Culture at Jiangzhuang Site in Xinghua and Dongtai Cities, Jiangsu
  6. New archaeological discoveries
  7. The 2014-2015 excavations of the Zhouyuan Site in Baoji, Shaanxi
  8. New archaeological discoveries
  9. Marquis of Haihun’s tomb of the Western Han Dynasty in Nanchang, Jiangxi
  10. New archaeological discoveries
  11. The excavation of the Taiji Hall complex in Han-Wei Luoyang City
  12. Spotlight
  13. The tusi cemetery of the Yang Family at Xinpu New District, Zunyi City, Guizhou
  14. Spotlight
  15. The archaeological survey and excavation of walls and passes of the Hailong Tun site in Zunyi City, Guizhou
  16. Reports
  17. The excavation of the Niupodong Site in Pingba District, Gui’an New Area, Guizhou in 2012–2013
  18. Reports
  19. The excavation of walls and roads at the Erlitou Site in Yanshi City, Henan in 2012–2013
  20. Reports
  21. The bone workshop site of Yinxu Period at Tiesan Road in Anyang, Henan
  22. Reports
  23. The excavation of the Dadianshan Cemetery in Changning, Yunan
  24. Reports
  25. The excavation of the Huahaizi No. 3 Site in Qinghe County, Xinjiang
  26. Reports
  27. A Liao Dynasty tomb in the Panyanggou Cemetery, Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia
  28. Research
  29. On the issues related to the discoid cores
  30. Research
  31. Variability in pottery firing technology: choice or technical development?
  32. Research
  33. The evolution of auspicious beasts in the burial decoration of the Six-Dynasties Period and the formation of the “Jin System”
  34. Research
  35. Studies on the materials and manufacturing technology of the murals unearthed at Shimao Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi
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