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| Project Details |
| Funding Scheme : | Early Career Scheme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Number : | 28401814 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Title(English) : | Beyond Imitation: Ritual Objects, Pictorial Representations and Religious Beliefs of Han China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Title(Chinese) : | 形物像外：漢代的禮器、圖像與信仰 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Investigator(English) : | Dr Lam, Hau Ling Eileen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Investigator(Chinese) : | 林巧羚 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Department : | Department of Cultural and Creative Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Institution : | The Education University of Hong Kong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E-mail Address : | ehllam@eduhk.hk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tel : | 2948 7169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co - Investigator(s) : |
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| Panel : | Humanities, Social Sciences | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject Area : | Humanities and Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise Year : | 2014 / 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Approved : | 399,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Status : | Completed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completion Date : | 30-6-2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Objectives : |
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| Abstract as per original application (English/Chinese): |
漢代（公元前206年–公元220年）器物研究，隨著近數十年來大量漢墓的發現及豐富的漢代文物出土，而有長足的發展。然而，過往這方面的研究多集中以個別器物或墓葬為探討對象。同時，考古材料多視為輔助文獻性質。而此研究則嘗試另闢蹊徑，提出不同的觀點，以「仿製」為主題，探索和重新思考漢墓中各種出土文物之間的關聯、特性與角色，以至箇中所揭示的漢代社會、文化和信仰的面貌。 古往今來，當不同物料之間存有價值的差異，仿製便會出現。古代中國亦出現不少相關的例子，如陶鼎、木璧等等，這以廉價的材料(陶、木)，來仿製原來以貴重材料所製作的器物(青銅器、玉器等)的情況並不難理解，亦相當普遍。然而，在漢代墓葬中所出現的仿製情況並非如此單一。比如以玉仿製價值相對低廉的物料製器，便違悖了上述的邏輯。此外，當時這種仿製的概念，亦展現於實物與圖像之間。 此研究期望能梳理各種豐富的原始資料，包括考古出土材料、考古報告、博物館藏品、圖錄、文獻史料等，以將相關的漢代文物資料系統化。同時，透過跨學科的研究方法，探討一些被忽略的漢代器物仿製的情況，由此闡釋箇中的因由與動機，以及背後所隱含的社會和文化意義。除了以傳統歷史學方法整理文獻史料，這項研究將會依據大量考古學資料為基礎，並使用藝術史學的風格分析以至社會科學的理論方法作統合剖析。當中亦突顯物質文化研究作為進深了解漢代的信仰觀念、以至社會歷史的重要性。 |
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| Realisation of objectives: | For objectives: 1) to collect and examine primary material of Han scattered in various museums and archaeological institutes in China and overseas; 2) to compare and review the textual information with substantial ordinary artifacts of the Han period; and 3) to build a preliminary electronic archive of the primary material for studying Han material culture. These three objectives had been achieved respectively by the following actions and outcomes. First of all, substantial data (including images, statistics, textual material, etc.) have been collected from a wide range of primary materials, encompassing archaeological reports, scholarly periodicals, monographs, classical literatures, books and catalogues, etc. for building a definitive database with texts and images. An initial research electronic database has been developed, and the collected data have been analysed and reviewed from time to time. Based on the initial collected data, comparing the objects with textual documentations, the PI identified significant objects that required further in-depth analysis, and conducted field research for first-hand study of the target artefacts and accessing relevant ordinary archival data in different mainland and overseas museum collections, including Changsha Museum, Hunan Provincial Museum, Changsha Bamboo Slips Museum, Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, Capital Museum, National Museum of China, Nanjing Museum, The Oriental Metropolitan Museum, Hepu Han Dynasty Cultural Museum, The Museum of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, The Yale University Art Gallery, The Penn Museum, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Guimet Museum, Cernuschi Museum, Fukuoka City Museum, Itokoku Historical Museum, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, etc. By visiting these museums and institutes, questionable object items had been examined and clarified, moreover, high-resolution images of objects, and related archival documentations, such as archaeological reports, provenance records, etc., were collected and further contributed to and enhance the electronic database. Afterwards, the collected date sets were analysed and synthesized, and generated in forms of tables, charts, and maps, and these data and information became highly useful and effective tools to analyses and illustrate different relevant issues of this research project, for example, to chart the distribution and development trajectory of a certain type of ritual objects (such as bi disc, sheng, etc.) during Han dynasty. Eventually, these data sets were disseminated in forms of tables, charts, and maps, and were integrated into and published on different research papers (as shown in Part C-8), conference papers (Part C-9) and different public talks and seminars (Part C-12). In order to respond and achieve the following four objectives: i.e. 4) reexamining our general understanding of imitation of material in ancient Chinese society; 5) tracing the changes of the hierarchy of material in the Han burial context; 6) addressing a relatively new perspective to understand Han society; and 7) broadening the scope of understanding the religious ideologies of Han through rethinking the materiality and identity of different objects and materials in the tomb context; Four peer-reviewed academic papers (Part C-8) were produced, and the PI participated in refereed international scholarly conferences to present six research papers (Part C-9) yielded from this research project. On the basis of the electronic database developed in this project, specific ritual objects were identified and selected as case studies for in-depth examination and addressing objectives 4 to 7. For example, bi disc was chosen as one of the major case studies, this type of object was believed to have the power for communicating with Heaven in ancient China, by studying different forms and representations of this type of object, it reveals the complicated situation of imitation practice (objective 4) and the hierarchy of material in different status Han burials (objective 5). It also provides a different approach (biographical approach) and alternative perspective to look at the situation (objective 6), and helps us understand further about the religious ideologies during the times (objective 7). Relevant and detailed findings, discussion and analyses are documented and published in two academic paper, i.e. a book chapter entitled “Dynamic between form and material: the bi disc in Western Han noble burial ritual” published by the Cambridge University Press (Part C-8.1); and an article “Representation of heaven and beyond: the bi disc imagery in the Han burial context” published by the journal Asian Studies (Part C-8.2). Another study focuses on jade dragon pendants, another prevalent ritual object used during ancient China. This study analyses different jade dragon pendants unearthed from a Western Han princely tomb of Chu at Shizishan, and an interesting situation that imitation existed among the dragon pendants from this tombs. This study seeks to investigate the motives driven the practice (objective 4), and provide alternative perspective to rethinking the materiality of the object in the context (objective 7). Details of the relevant findings and discussion are documented in the academic paper, “A Collection of Dragon Pendants from the Tomb of Prince of Chu at Shizishan in Xuzhou” (Part C-8.3), which was submitted to and currently under reviewed by Wenwu, a preeminent international archaeological journal. Other case studies on the issue of imitation, include the iconography of sheng and the Queen Mother of the West, lacquered head covers, etc. were also adopted to address the Objectives respectively. Relevant findings and discussions were written as conference papers and presented in different referred international conference. During this research period, six different research papers were accepted and presented in different international scholarly conferences, they are: “The Jade Disc and Its Representations in Han China Burials”, “Jade Vessels in the Western Han Mortuary Context”, “Antiquarianism and Displays of Ancient Materials in Pre-modern China”, “From Mythology to Representation: Sheng and Its Iconography in Han Burial Ritual”, “The Sheng and Its Representation in Early China Burials”, and “A Study of Lacquered Head Covers in Han Burials” (Part C-9). In addition, the findings and outcomes of this research project were also disseminated to and discussed with the public as public talks and seminar in different academic and public arenas, including art museums, the Fine Arts Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Cattle Depot Artists Village (Part C-12). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of objectives addressed: |
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| Research Outcome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major findings and research outcome: | Major findings of this research project are as follows: 1. Although many objects made of inferior material are generally perceived as less precious imitations of valuable originals, this research indicates the situation was neither simple nor linked only to the availability of valuable material. 2. Even in elite tombs, many non-jade version of bi disc objects were used and presented as mingqi as part of the owners’ property, and in this case, the significance of object was manifest in the form of disc, not the material of manufacture. 3. By the Western Han, beliefs about the form of disc and its original material of jade diverged and, therefore, their trajectories became entirely different and complex. 4. In ordinary Han tombs, the use of imagery imitation of jade disc is a hybrid continuity and development of the elite tombs in the South and noble mountain tomb of the East. 5. The imitative practice of disc in ordinary Han tombs, revealed the protective purpose was no longer sustained by bi disc image, but the significance of image was enriched and became a symbol represented heavenly world. 6. Imitation of a rare archaic object occurred in noble tombs context, it reveals imitation as a method to retain the distinction of owner. 7. Although jade imitation was a case of reverse logic of using inexpensive material to imitate objects made of valuable material, different examples of this practice were found from Shang dynasty through Tang dynasty. Outcomes includes a preliminary electronic archive of primary data and images for studying ancient Chinese material culture has been established, and the database material together with the above mentioned findings are thoroughly analysed, addressed and compiled in 4 different academic papers respectively: “Dynamic between form and material: the bi disc in Western Han noble burial ritual” a book chapter published by Cambridge University Press (Part C-8.1); two journal papers “Representation of heaven and beyond: the bi disc imagery in the Han burial context” (Part C-8.2) and “A Collection of Dragon Pendants from the Tomb of Prince of Chu at Shizishan in Xuzhou” (Part C-8.3); and the sections “Ancient jades” and “Medieval jades” in the article “Carvings (stone and jade) in pre‐modern China” (Part C-8.4). Moreover, the major findings were addressed and illustrated in 6 different referred conference papers (Part C-9). In addition, the findings were shared and discussed with the public in 4 public talks (Part C-12). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potential for further development of the research and the proposed course of action: |
On the basis of this research, future studies can consider looking into different media or material that have not been duly discussed in current project, such as glass, ceramic, lacquer, etc., since the current research primarily focuses on studying different types of ritual objects rather on a specific medium of material. Moreover, the study period can move beyond Han dynasty, for example, the study period of glass imitation can either expend to earlier Eastern Zhou period, or later to Tang Dynasty, as glass was more prevalent used during the periods. In addition, the regions for investigation can also consider expanding to East Asian or Southeast Asian areas, such as Vietnam, Korea and Japan, so as the entire picture of material exchange and development of the region in ancient time can be more clearly revealed and illustrated. To realize the mentioned aspects, beside carrying out research projects, publishing research papers, it can also consider making integral use of scientific analysis results of some of the studied artifacts and material, such as bronze and glass, and therefore collaboration with scientific professionals can be considered in future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Layman's Summary of Completion Report: | This is an in-depth research with emphasis on the phenomenon of imitation, a practice that was prevalent and constant in the material world, once distinctions of value began to occur among various materials. It was popular and understandable to use inexpensive material to imitate objects made of valuable primary material, such as gold and jade, however, the authentic situation of imitation was conceivably far more complex in the Han Dynasty. For example, the existence of jade imitation was a case of reverse logic. Moreover, imitation not only occurred among various materials, but also between genuine objects and image representations. This research explores and examines the intricate incentives for the practice and selection of material, in order to reveal the embedded cultural and social values in the materials and objects per se of the time. More broadly, this research also demonstrates the importance of studying material culture, which is an alternative way to enhance our understanding of the development of society and religious beliefs of ancient China. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research Output | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peer-reviewed journal publication(s) arising directly from this research project : (* denotes the corresponding author) |
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| Recognized international conference(s) in which paper(s) related to this research project was/were delivered : |
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| Other impact (e.g. award of patents or prizes, collaboration with other research institutions, technology transfer, etc.): |
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| Realisation of the education plan: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SCREEN ID: SCRRM00542 |