Social Thought and Bronze Art in the Western Zhou Dynasty

Abstract

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, based on the Yin rituals, the Zhou people made moderate adjustments to social ideology by introducing the idea of honoring virtues, reorganizing the ritual orders, and adjusting the sacrificial rites, thereby formulating the social thought of “revering the ancestors and respecting virtue” and “respecting heaven and protecting the people”. This social ideology influenced the modelling and decoration of bronze wares. The shape of the bronze focuses more on practical function and formal beauty, the combination of utensils pays more attention to the combination of food vessels, and the decorative art incorporates more geometric patterns with a sense of structure and order. The content of the bronze inscriptions is mostly inscribed with evidence of realistic deeds and achievements, which is the main feature of the modelling and decoration of bronze wares during the Western Zhou Dynasty, forming a strong contrast to the Shang Dynasty style of “respecting gods and ghosts”. The formation of this artistic style is the physical embodiment of the social ideology of the Western Zhou Dynasty of “revering ancestors and respecting virtue” and “respecting heaven and protecting the people”.

Key Words

Western Zhou, revere ancestors and respect virtue, respect for heaven and protection the people, bronze