Jinzhou City Cultural Relics Protection Office

Jinzhou City Cultural Relics Protection Office

Jinzhou City Cultural Relics Protection Office

Since its establishment, the Jinzhou City Cultural Relics Protection Office has collected a number of ancient bronze mirrors. Among them, five are of fine quality, well-preserved, and of high research value, offering an impressive glimpse into the past.

Zhao Ming Mirror, collected item. It has a semicircular knob, a circular knob base, and around the base is a raised circular ring formed by eight connected arc segments. Between the knob base and the arc segments are arranged in sequence three short lines and one short line. Outside this are two bands of short diagonal line patterns, with an ancient script band in between reading: “日而月一冉，而清出可昭，而回而光而出.” The mirror has a plain rim, a diameter of 9.5 cm, and a rim width of 1 cm. This mirror is exquisitely made, and parts of it still reflect images clearly. It was made during the Western Han Dynasty and is designated as a national second-class cultural relic.

Song Dynasty imitation of a Western Han Zhao Ming Mirror, collected item. This mirror closely resembles the Western Han version in shape and decoration. The mirror surface is slightly convex, with a circular knob base and a hemispherical round knob. Around the base is a band of arc line patterns, and between the circular knob base and the arc lines are arranged in sequence three short lines and one short line. Outside this is a raised circular ring formed by eight connected arc segments, surrounded by a band of vertical and diagonal lines, then two outer bands of double raised string patterns. The central area features a circle of ancient script, and near the edge is a band of diagonal line patterns. It has a plain rim, a diameter of 8.7 cm, and a thickness of 0.5 cm. It was made in the Song Dynasty and is a national third-class cultural relic.

Divine Beast Mirror, collected item. It has a hemispherical knob and a square knob base, with decorative body motifs at each of the four corners of the base. Surrounding the base is a square frame. The main decoration divides the back of the mirror into four symmetrical sections using four raised dots (nipples), each featuring two deities and two beasts. The deity figures are serene and seated, while the beasts appear to be galloping. Outside this is a double string pattern, then a band of comb-like and sawtooth patterns. It has a plain rolled rim. The diameter is 16.5 cm, and it dates from the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is a national second-class cultural relic.

Six-Nipple Six-Bird Mirror, collected item. It has a hemispherical knob and a circular knob base, with a band of nipple patterns around the base. The main decoration features six nipples interspersed with six different divine birds, and among the six birds are irregularly placed seven small nipples. Outside this is a double string pattern, within which is a band of seal script reading: “三公长宜，子口口呈.” Further out is a sawtooth pattern. It has a triangular sloped plain rim, a diameter of 12.5 cm, and a rim thickness of 0.3 cm, exhibiting distinct characteristics of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is a national third-class cultural relic.

Sunflower-style Flower-and-Bird Mirror, collected item. It has a sunflower-shaped outline. The knob is small and bridge-like, with no knob base. On one side of the knob is a 3 cm by 2 cm rectangular seal, the inscription of which is illegible due to age. Near the rim, three of the curved sections each contain a “大” (great) character motif, while the other three curved sections feature flower-and-bird decorations. The diameter is 13 cm, and it is a Song Dynasty bronze mirror. It is a national third-class cultural relic.

Address: Jinzhou City, Hebei Province