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Guang Artifacts

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Guang, probably from Anyang, China, Shang dynasty, 12th or 11th century BCE is a fined artifact. A guang is a particular shape used in Chinese art for vessels, originally made as Chinese ritual bronzes in the Shang dynasty. Research from wikipedia stated they were used for pouring rice wine at ritual banquets, and often deposited as grave goods in high status burial. Shang artists perfected casting elaborate bronze vessels covered with animal motifs. The animal forms symbolized real and imaginary. The guang has a single thick foot, and a thick hollow body that represents one or more stylized animals. Their main period of use was during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, from around 1700 to 900 BCE. Thereafter the shape was sometimes used in a revivalist spirit. Also was used in sacrifices to ancestors and in funerary ceremonies. The art piece was very popular during that time. …show more content…

Also serve wine during ancestor worship rituals in which the wine vapors were to be consumed by the deceased spirits. Each vessels shaped matched it's intended purpose. The guang also has a neck and head, which serve as the pouring channel for the wine. Guang bronze vessels were used not only in life to honor the deceased, but also at times placed with the deceased in their grave. The ritual vessels are also useful to the living as well. They are both everyday functioning items, but also objects which serve religious and spiritual purposes. The multiple designs around the guang also show form. Their fields of background spirals integrate so closely with the form of the guang. The guang have a unique

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