Chapter 6 Section 5 Carved Wooden Lacquerware and Bone and Toothware

Lacquerware is an important invention in ancient China. According to archaeological findings, lacquerware has been invented as early as the Neolithic Age.In the Shang Dynasty, due to the widespread use of bronze hand tools, the production of wood and lacquerware developed greatly, and exquisite patterns could be carved.However, wood lacquerware is perishable and difficult to preserve, and it is rarely found.Traces of carved wooden outer coffin boards were found in Panlong City in Huangpi, Hubei Province, and in the tombs of slave owners and nobles in Yinxu, Anyang.Early Shang lacquerware was unearthed in Erlitou, Yanshi.Fragments of lacquer plates and lacquer boxes from the late Shang Dynasty were unearthed in Taixi, Gaocheng, Hebei. There is turquoise.Lacquer beans and lacquer pots from the late Shang Dynasty were also unearthed at the Yin Ruins in Anyang, decorated with animal face patterns, circular scroll patterns, etc., and some lacquerware were also inlaid with clam shells, clam bubbles, and jade.

The bone implements of the Shang Dynasty also played a certain role in production and life, mainly including bone arrowheads for hunting or war, bone hairpins for binding hair, and daily necessities such as bone awls, needles, and si si.It is worth noting that nearly a hundred sawn human skulls were found in a ditch in the palace area in the northeast of Zhengzhou Mall, and a large number of human limbs were found in the bone-making workshop of the Shang Dynasty outside the north wall of the mall not far from here. Bones and ribs are all raw materials for making bone tools, which deeply reflect the cruelty of the slave society.In addition, the raw materials for making bone vessels include beef bones and pig bones.Tools for making bone tools include bronze knives, saws, drills, and sandstone whetstones for grinding bone tools.

The use of sharp bronze tools made the ivory carving technology of the Shang Dynasty reach a very high level.Ivory goblets and ivory combs were unearthed from the mid-Shang Dynasty tombs in Baijiazhuang, Zhengzhou.Three ivory cups unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao in the late Shang Dynasty at the Yin Ruins in Anyang were made of hollow ivory root segments.Among them is a pair of Kui 鋬 cups, 30.5 centimeters high. The cups are slender and tall like goblets. The whole body is carved with animal face patterns, etc., and inlaid with turquoise.The other one is the tiger cup with flow, both of which are rare treasures.

In addition, deer antlers, clam knives, and clam sickles were also unearthed in the Shang Dynasty ruins.