Object

方格規矩四神鏡 

Keio Object Hub
Date
制作年 AD1
Title
ホウカクキクシシンキョウ
Materials, techniques and shape
Collections
Depository
Keio Museum Commons Campus Mita
Ref. number
AW-CEN-001040-0000
License
CC BY Images license
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

URL
Classification
Art
AI Tagging
Eye Button Circle Fashion accessory Metal

A pattern using the shapes of a T, inverted L, and V, or the famous TLV design, often decorates these ancient mirrors and is strategically placed at the four corners, along each side, or at the places opposite the four apexes of the square. These mirrors are often called “TLV mirrors.” Some scholars give cosmological significance to the TLV pattern, saying that it symbolizes the universe. Other scholars claim that it simply developed from a board on which an ancient game of checkers was played. Even if true, the rules of the game have since been lost, and the significance of the square pattern cannot be verified. The four sides of the square were often decorated with various motifs. Relatively old mirrors from the Former Han Dynasty were decorated with smooth dragons with open mouths or plant leaves with no base pattern, but the most popular round mirrors with a central square, as the one seen here, were decorated with the four divine creatures—the Red Phoenix, Black Tortoise, Blue Dragon, and White Tiger. After placing the four creatures in the four corners of the mirror, the spaces in between were filled with drawings of birds and beasts.

Rights

Ref. number
AW-CEN-001040-0000
License
CC BY
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

Images
license

Depository and ID

Depository
Keio Museum Commons
Campus Mita
URL
Classification
Art

Components

OPEN DATADESIGN

Details

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1面
Materials, techniques and shape
Materials 銀色メッキ

Physical description

Weights and quantities
Quantity 1面
Materials, techniques and shape
Materials 銀色メッキ