Ancient Bronze Mirrors of Ezhou

Last updated 2026-11-09 — Ezhou is known as the hometown of ancient bronze mirrors. During the Three Kingdoms period, Wuchang (modern-day Ezhou), along with Luoyang, Kuaiji, and Xuzhou, was one of the four major centers in China for copper production and mirror-making. From the late Han Dynasty, through the Three Kingdoms and into the Jin Dynasties, Wuchang led the way in mirror-casting craftsmanship, with many uniquely designed bronze mirrors first cast here. The Ezhou Museum houses a collection of over 500 ancient bronze mirrors from the Warring States period to the Ming and Qing dynasties—more than any other museum across the country. To study the smelting, casting techniques, shapes, and decorative patterns of ancient bronze mirrors, the Ezhou Cultural Relics Restoration and Replication Institute has used both traditional methods and modern technology to recreate these artifacts. The replicated mirrors are exquisitely crafted, with novel compositions, elegant designs, and polished surfaces. Their patterns are uniquely distinctive and richly colored, featuring vivid dragons, tigers, and qilins; gracefully dancing phoenixes and vermilion birds; lifelike mythical beasts; and gracefully shaped flowers and plants. The size, shape, curvature radius, and production techniques are all meticulously executed. These art pieces are not only popular domestically but also exported abroad, making them an excellent souvenir or collectible for travelers.