Chapter 38 Section 5 Bronze Culture in South China and Southeast China

Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Taiwan in South China and Southeast China were inhabited by ancient Yue people during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Under the influence of the bronze culture of the Central Plains, they also entered the Bronze Age one after another.The characteristic of its bronze culture is that there are both bronze ritual vessels produced in the Central Plains and locally produced bronze ritual vessels imitating the Central Plains; while its bronze tools and weapons have distinct local characteristics.In addition, the most prominent feature is that in the Western Zhou Dynasty, especially in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were developed hard pottery with geometric imprints on the surface, most of which were jars, as well as beans, bowls, and plates.In addition, there are segmented or shouldered stone tools, such as shouldered stone axes and segmented stone adzes, which also have distinct local characteristics.A brief introduction is given below.

Guangdong area. In Xinyi in 1974, a mid-Western Zhou bronze cymbal produced in the Central Plains was found, indicating that it had been influenced by the Central Plains bronze culture at this time. In 1962 and 1963, two tombs from the Spring and Autumn Period were discovered in Qingyuan.Two bronze tripods, one gui and a set of chime bells (five extant) were unearthed from Tomb No. 1.A set of seven bronze chime bells, one bronze shackle, and copper axes, spears, daggers, and axes were unearthed from Tomb No. 2.Among them, the bronze pot was produced in the Central Plains; the bronze tripod was made locally. It is characterized by a shallow belly and three slender, tall feet that are turned outwards. It is commonly known as the Yue-style tripod.In addition, the copper axe with a fan-shaped blade and a boot-like shape as a whole, and the copper dagger with a handle cast in the shape of a standing figure with a waist in it, have more distinctive local characteristics.In addition, a tomb in the middle and late Warring States period discovered in Zhaoqing contained more than 100 bronze wares, indicating that the bronze culture in Guangdong had developed to a certain level during the Warring States period.

Guangxi region. Since 1949, bronze pots and bells from the late Shang Dynasty and the Western Zhou Dynasty have been unearthed in Wuming, Xing'an, Hengxian and other places, reflecting the connection and exchanges with the Central Plains at that time.By the Spring and Autumn Period, Guangxi bronze culture had developed to a certain extent.For example, in the tombs of the Spring and Autumn Period discovered in Gongcheng in 1971, five bronze tripods and 33 pieces including Zun, Zun, Chime, Yue, Sword, Ge, and Ax were unearthed.Among them, the copper tripods include not only the tripods with pan-虺 pattern produced in the Central Plains, but also the Yue-style tripods made locally.It is worth noting that the bronze statue is in the shape of an extravagant mouth and hanging belly, which is a common shape in the middle and late Western Zhou Dynasty in the Central Plains, but its decoration is the unique pattern of double snakes and frogs in South China, which shows that this is a local imitation of the Central Plains style. bronze ritual vessel.In addition, the copper ax is also fan-shaped and boot-shaped, which is similar to the one unearthed in Qingyuan, Guangdong. In 1974, a group of tombs from the Warring States period were excavated in Yinshanling, Pingle, and iron artifacts appeared in them, which shows that during the Warring States period, the connection between Guangxi and the Central Plains became closer.

Fujian area.Few have been found so far. In 1974, a group of bronze Ge, Qi, spears, daggers, adzes and bells from the Western Zhou Dynasty were discovered in Daying, Nan'an.Ge has a longer interior and a concave arc at the rear end.The outline, zigzag, and wave patterns on the copper bells and bronze qi are consistent with those on the local hard pottery with geometric patterns and have distinct local characteristics.A large bronze bell from the Western Zhou Dynasty was found in Yangze Village, Jian'ou, with a height of 76.8 cm and a weight of 100.35 kg. Its shape and decoration are similar to those unearthed in Zhejiang and Hunan.In addition, bronze fragments were found on the upper layer of the Dongzhang site in Fuqing, one of which was decorated with cloud and thunder patterns.There are also hard clay pots with geometric prints and original porcelain beans.

The late Yuanshan culture in Taiwan may have entered the Bronze Age, and bronze arrowheads were found.Its shouldered stone ax and segmented stone adze are similar to those unearthed from the Dongzhang site in Fuqing, Fujian, which shows that they belong to the same cultural system, and the ancient residents of Yuanshan should also be a branch of the ancient Yue nationality.It can be seen that Taiwan had already had close ties with the mainland during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times.