Mirror

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This mirror almost certainly comes from a high status grave. During the Han period (206BC-AD 220), burial of mirrors on the dead person's chest, as 'heart protectors', was popular. Mirrors were believed to have magical and protective properties.

This circular mirror is made of cast bronze, with one side originally silvered. The back has a central pierced knob, for suspending the mirror on a cord, and is decorated with Buddhas and winged figures and magical inscriptions in Chinese characters.

In China, during the first millennia BC and AD, mirrors were believed to protect living and dead people against evil spirits by revealing their true forms, and warding them off. They could also predict the future and show how people would be reborn.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-658-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1930.170
• Date: 206 BC - 220 AD
  Between 206 BC and 220 AD
  
• Material: Bronze. Inscription: [Chinese characters]
  
• Dimensions: 4.38" D
  
• What:
• Subject: Bronzes
  
• Who:
• Where: China, P'enshan
  
• Event:
• Description: Cast bronze mirror, with a central boss pierced for cord surrounded by figures and Chinese characters in bands, the reverse originally silvered: China, P'enshan, Han dynasty, 206 BC - 220 AD
  
• References:
  • Swallow, R.W. Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors. 1937. Peiping. 
  • Watson, W. Ancient Chinese Bronzes. London. 
• Translations:
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