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Bronze Mirror Decorated with Triangular Rim, Double-Wave-Patterned Band, Gods, and Animals

   February 21, 2021  1 Comment on Bronze Mirror Decorated with Triangular Rim, Double-Wave-Patterned Band, Gods, and Animals
This mirror from the 3rd to 4th century Japan (excavated from the Higashinomiya Tumulus on Mount Hakusan in Aichi prefecture) is made of bronze, just like most of the mirrors found from this time. The backside of the mirror has depictions of gods and animals in hannikubori (half-body engraving). Personally, I believe the four circular bumps on the mirror to be the four cardinal directions; the god and animal figures could be some representation of the directions where the sun sets or rises. The Bronze Mirror is one out of eleven found on the Higashinomiya Tumulu, however, this specific mirror has a superior design.

Although being from Japan, the mirror has four inscribed Chinese characters: ten meaning heaven; ō meaning king; hi meaning sun; and Tsuki meaning moon. Physically, the mirror is convex, possibly due to age and wear. Mirrors with these specific attributes (triangular rim and a god-and-animal motif) are found in Chinese mirrors (however not yet found on the Chinese mainland) causing debate about where the mirrors may have originated from.
  • Title: Bronze Mirror Decorated with Triangular Rim, Double-Wave-Patterned Band, Gods, and Animals
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Place: Higashinomiya Tumulus on Mount Hakusan, Japan
  • Size: 20cm in diameter
  • Date: 3rd-4th Century
  • Period: Kofun
  • Medium: Bronze

References

  1. http://syuweb.kyohaku.go.jp/ibmuseum_public/index.php?app=shiryo&mode=detail&list_id=445031&data_id=7661
  2. Bronze Mirror Decorated with Triangular Rim, Double-Wave-Patterned Band, Gods, and Animals – Unknown — Google Arts & Culture

Author: Charlotte Becker

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