“方华蔓长,名此曰昌”——为“柿蒂纹”正名

A Note on Renaming Persimmon Calyx Pattern(柿蒂纹) Based on Inscriptions on Two Bronze Mirrors Dating to Warring States Period

本文讨论的是两件纹饰主题为大四瓣花的铜镜。这件铜器有八个字,可以证明战国到西汉的这类纹饰,其本来名称叫"方华",即"方花"。"方花"的意思是标志方向的花。得此可以证明,战国到汉代各类器物(铜器、漆器、画像石、瓦当)上的类似纹饰,其实都可改叫"方花纹"。通常所谓"柿蒂纹"只是"方花纹"的一种。

＂Ibis note discusses the motif of a big flower with four petals and an inscription of eight characters on two pieces of rare bronze mirrors dating to the Warring States period, The inscription suggests that the original name of this flower pattern isfangbua （方华 or 方花）. Fanghua means directional flower, each petal symbolizing a direction, which is strong evidence that the correct name for similar patterns on bronze or lacquer vessels, stone reliefs and tile ends popular in the Warring States period and Q2n to Han dynasties is fanghua in a broad sense.