The decorative patterns of cultural relics

Answer 1

There were many types of decorative patterns on cultural relics and they had rich meanings. The following were some common decorative patterns on cultural relics:

** 1. Common decorations in the Central Plains **
1. ** Animal and plant-themed decorations **
- In the Central Plains, the decorations of cultural relics were mostly based on the common animals and plants in nature. From the early Neoliths, there were almost realistic animal patterns, such as the painted pottery jar of the Yangshao culture,"Stork and Stone Axe Painting". As time passed, these patterns gradually became artistic. For example, during the Miaodigou period of the Yangshao culture, bird patterns and decorative patterns appeared. During the Xinzhai period and Erlitou culture, turquoise dragon-shaped ware with dragon patterns or animal shapes appeared. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the patterns of Taotie, phoenix, dragon, tiger, and so on were popular. The evolution of these patterns was generally a process from realism to artistry. This was related to the political organization model of the Central Plains, which was mainly based on royal power, supplemented by military power and divine power. The ancestors of the Central Plains believed more in the power of nature, so they worshipped the birds and beasts of nature.
2. ** Cloud Thunder Pattern **
- Cloud Lightning Pattern was a general term for Cloud Pattern and Lightning Pattern. Its basic characteristic was that it was formed by continuous lines in the shape of a 'hu'. In the early Shang Dynasty, the cloud thunder pattern could be used as the main pattern on the mouth of the bronze ware, and the abdomen could be spread out horizontally around the ware. It could also be used as the ground pattern and the animal head to form the animal face pattern. In the later period of the Shang Dynasty, the decorative style of "three-layer flower" was popular on bronze ware, and the cloud thunder pattern played a role in enriching the picture. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the cloud and thunder pattern was rarely used as the main pattern. It often appeared in the form of a ground pattern. Moreover, due to the influence of the Zhou people's emphasis on agriculture and suppression of commerce, the pattern shape changed from complicated and fine to exquisite. The original sense of power and ferocity became gentle and gentle.
3. ** Taotie Pattern **
- The Taotie pattern was a common animal pattern on the bronze ware of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The image was generally large eyes, a huge nose, and ears or horns on the head. The basic pattern was symmetrical with the nose bridge as the center line. There were horns, ears, eyes, mouth, claws, body, and tail, giving people a mysterious, strange, and majestic feeling. It had the function of a political symbol, representing the country, class, power, and nation. At the same time, it had the function of offering sacrifices and reaching the heavens. Wizards might communicate with the gods through a medium similar to the " mask."
4. ** Fish Pattern **
- The fish pattern originated from the wizard culture and totem culture in ancient times. It was born from the belief of reproduction worship. Later, it evolved into an auspicious pattern that implied the continuation of good fortune and more than enough years. It entrusted people's yearning for a better life and the pursuit of young men and women for a perfect love.

** 2. Other regions or special decorations **
1. ** Human or human-face related decorations **
- Outside the Central Plains, there were many cultural relics and patterns of "human shape" or "human face" in the Dadiwan culture in the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the Banpo type of Yangshao culture around Shaanxi Province. They might be the portrayals of the gods in these cultures, such as the half-god and half-human colored pottery vase unearthed in the Dadiwan culture. Such patterns rarely appeared in the Central Plains.
2. ** Twining Branch Pattern **
- The twining pattern was a kind of plant pattern that had a complicated decorative meaning. It was widely used in ancient times. It could be seen on lacquer ware, tiles, embroidery, metal ware, jade ware, carving, and other objects, especially on porcelain.
3. ** Peony holding seal characters "Longevity" pattern **
- For example, each corner of the silver-coated single-eared cup of the Qing Dynasty was decorated with the "longevity" pattern of peony holding seal characters, which reflected the cultural meaning of people's yearning for longevity at that time.
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