试论殷墟晚期青铜礼器的两个发展方向

On the Two Development Directions of the Bronze Ritual Vessels during Late Shang Dynasty

不少学者认为青铜礼器在殷墟二期达到了鼎盛时期,自此走向了衰落。本文认为殷墟晚期青铜礼器没有衰落,而是发生了重大变革,青铜礼器向着两个方向继续发展:一个是向着明器方向发展,另一个是沿着实用器方向发展。实用器发展过程中出现了两种不同风格:一是沿着传统的样式继续前行,此风格在铸造技术上没有多大进步,甚至还有衰退趋势;另一种风格是在传统基础上大力创新,此风格的青铜礼器造型奇特,纹饰夸张,使人耳目一新,在铸造技术上有较大提高。明器化和传统样式的青铜礼器多出土于墓葬中,而创新风格的青铜礼器多见于国内外传世铜器以及孝民屯部分陶范所对应的青铜礼器,后者真正代表了殷墟晚期灿烂辉煌的青铜文化。殷墟晚期青铜礼器向着实用器与明器两个发展方向发展的内在原因应是人们思想意识形态的变化。殷墟晚期,殷人开始对上帝及鬼神有所怀疑,宗教观念发生了变化,这也是人类思想观念的一大进步。

Many scholars believes that the bronze sacrificial vessels reached its peak during Yinxu site＇ s second phase, and declined gradually after that period. In this paper, we argue that the bronze sacrificial vessels did not decline during the late Yinxu period. Instead, the bronze technology had undergone an important revolution. From that point on, the bronze sacrificial vessels continued to evolve into two separate directions： one type became funerary wares, while the other type was utilitarian in nature. The utilitarian vessels can be further separated into two different styles. The first one is a continuation of the traditional vessel styles, which did not demonstrate a technological progression in the casting process and even showed trends of regression. The other style was marked by great innovations derived from the traditional techniques. These innovations greatly improved the casting technique resulting in bronze vessels with a more novel appearance and exaggerated decoration patterns. The first type of bronze vessels were mostly uncovered from tombs while the new style of bronze vessels were often found among vessel collections, and often corresponds to the pottery molds uncovered from bronze workshops such as Xiaomintun Site. The latter type best represents the splendid bronze vessel culture in the later Yinxu period. The reason behind these two evolutionary paths of the bronze vessels may be attributed to the changes in human thoughts of the Ruins of Yin. Suggesting that the people ofYin＇s concept of Di, ghosts, and deities are starting to wane. Indicating a shift in religious beliefs, which marks a progress in the history of thoughts.