Introduction
When talking of urban civilization, it is mainly characterized by the three-age system,
which is the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Age. In the Bronze Age, this one began in the ancient near
east and western Asia. This is where it all began and later came to spread to other parts of the
world. With the Bronze Age, the main characteristic is the use of bronze in proto-writing. This
came after they had been using stones for proto-writing and later advancing to iron. Bronze was
not only used for proto-writing purposes but had widespread use like making weapons, tools of
production, and sculptures among many others. 1 This article will look at the Bronze Age in China
and the impact it had on the population.
Literature Review
There were three bronze ages in China which happened during the times of the Xia, the
Zhou, and the Shang dynasties. It is said to have lasted for more than 1600 years. During this
period, fighting was mainly between these three dynasties as power changed from one dynasty to
the other. Therefore fighting was a major thing that happened during this age. For this reason, the
use of bronze for making weapons was a major thing that happened during this period. The first
dynasty to come up with bronze vessels was the Xia dynasty. Later on, more exquisite bronze
vessels came up during the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. 1
In the sanxingdui Museum, most evidence held majorly shows the Shang dynasty bronze
tools, unlike the other two dynasties. 1 This dynasty ruled for a very long period among the three
dynasties in china during the Bronze Age. For this reason, it is majorly looked at when it comes
1 Sanxingdui Museum. 2021. "The Faces Of Sanxingdui: Mysterious Masks Of The Ancient Shu
Kingdom – Google Arts & Culture". Google Arts & Culture.
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to the Bronze Age in China. In other museums on China’s Bronze Age, most bronze artifacts of
this are vessels, weapons, and instruments. This is however different for Sanxingdui where
mainly it is masks. These masks were mainly found among other burnt items. It has to be
acknowledged that they are called masks but also too big to be worn on human faces. This is
because most of the masks are more than one meter wide and therefore they are more of
sculptures.
These masks almost similar in their appearance and therefore it has to be acknowledged
of the Shang dynasty style of art. They had their own way of expressing themselves which at this
period they decide to do it using artwork. Considering that masks were mostly found, the Shang
dynasty was considered to be very powerful. 2 This is why they also decided to express their
powerful nature as a community through artwork and used war masks for this work. The mask
with protruding eyes is one of the biggest masks found in the Sanxingdui museum considered to
be of major importance. It is believed to be a representation of the first group of leaders among
the ancient Shu. The Shu community is well known when it comes to the remembrance of their
ancestors and gods. The mask with crown protruding eyes is another important artifact preserved
in this museum. Considering the crown and large size, this mask was supposedly part of an
architectural structure. Being part of an architectural structure it was used for decorative
purposes with use on a pillar being the most anticipated one.
The Shang dynasty was considered an intermediary between the human and supernatural
realms. This is the reason why the bronze masks were mostly in honor of their ancestors and
gods. 2 They did not want to lose this connection between them and the supernatural forces. The
2 Keightley, David N. Sources of Shang history: The oracle-bone inscriptions of Bronze Age
China. Univ of California Press, 1985.
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kneeling figure bronze sculpture in the Sanxingdui Museum is evidence of their connection
between humanity and supernatural forces. This bronze sculpture is of a man kneeling while
facing ahead which is a representation of worship. This is the way the Shang people used to
connect to their gods through these bronze sculptures. 3 Therefore bronze at this time, being a
very expensive metal, was used to express their respect for their supernatural being which is seen
as an aspect of worship. Bronze was therefore a very important tool in the Shang community's
way of worship. Evidence on this sculpture shows that there are fewer holes on its feet. For this
reason, it has a solid base which shows it was made for it to be placed on a higher ground sitting
on some other object. This is clear evidence for an aspect of worship during the bronze times in
China. There is a number of kneeling figure sculptures, which show their vast way of worship. It
is clear that the Shan people did not have one god as different sculptures that show an aspect of
worship are all different although they have some similarities in some small details. One of these
details is that they are kneeling figures, to show the aspect of worship. It must also be taken into
consideration that all figures have some small similarities when it comes to the face particularly
the way. Therefore the Shang people did not practice art openly but had their own way of doing
art.
Towards the end of 1100BC, the Zhou from western China conquered the Shang and
were officially the new rulers in China. 4 This was the third and the last dynasty during the Bronze
Age in China. Therefore this group came up with the most sophisticated bronze vessels, tools,
weapons, and many more. Inscriptions on bronze increased in length and also in the rate at which
3 Sanxingdui Museum. 2021. "The Faces Of Sanxingdui: Mysterious Masks Of The Ancient Shu
Kingdom – Google Arts & Culture". Google Arts & Culture.
4 Song, Li. 2020. "Bronze Art Of Shang And Zhou Dynasties | 中國文化研究院 – 燦爛的中國
明". Chiculture.Org.Hk.
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it was being one during this dynasty rule. Bronze in this era was now being used to show the
political status and rank in society. This is as noble people started using bronze as a sign of
wealth for different purposes for example tools and instruments. Still being scarce at this period
in time, bronze was still seen as a connection between the heavens and earth. Therefore people in
the Zhou dynasty still used it for worship as it connected them and the gods.
Research Methods.
Considering this is historical related research, the study relies on what was written earlier.
Therefore the main method of research, in this case, is a literature review which entails the use of
other scholarly sources to build on the current research. With literature review comes along data
synthesis as the scholarly sources are not directly on this research topic but related topics that
help build on the research.
Another research method used in this is a case study. This entails the museum virtual visit
which uses the historical evidence present to develop the current research. In this museum, it is
also dependent on the earlier written article about the sculptures and other Bronze Age items
preserved. The museum used for research in this article is the Sanxingdui Museum.
Future Research on Topic and Conclusion.
This is historical research on a very vast topic. Therefore future research should also be
ensured to be very informative and vast. Considering that this is a five-page article, it is not
possible to cover the research in so much detail. This length of the article also limits the
researcher to only make research in one or two museums which will also impact the research
since it will not be of much depth. This is are the challenges that future research should be
focused on and ensure that they are being eliminated.
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This article has achieved its research purpose and checked the Bronze Age in China in
detail. The Shang and Zhou dynasty was the most noticeable during the Bronze Age. With war
and aspects of worship being the major use of Bronze objects.
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Bibliography
Sanxingdui Museum. 2021. "The Faces Of Sanxingdui: Mysterious Masks Of The Ancient Shu
Kingdom – Google Arts & Culture". Google Arts & Culture.
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-faces-of-sanxingdui-mysterious-masks-of-
the-ancient-shu-kingdom/gQwTb3I7 .
Song, Li. 2020. "Bronze Art Of Shang And Zhou Dynasties | 中國文化研究院 – 燦爛的中國
明". Chiculture.Org.Hk. https://chiculture.org.hk/en/china-five-thousand-
years/1959#:~:text=In%20China%2C%20the%20Bronze%20Age,the%20late%20Neolith
ic%20period%20(ca.
Keightley, David N. Sources of Shang history: The oracle-bone inscriptions of Bronze Age
China. Univ of California Press, 1985.