Bronze+in+the+Shang+Dynasty

=**China’s Bronze Age**= //By:Ariana//

The Shang Dynasty is generally known as the Bronze Age. The reasoning for that is the Shang civilization was the first to produce bronze. They used it in many ways. This showed high levels of civilization. The period of the Bronze Age in China began around 2000BC. It achieved its highest point around the 13th century BC. They have long been admired for their technical and artistic perfection.

The earliest Chinese bronze was made by the method known as piece-mold casting. TO create bronze early Chinese craftsman constructed a model in wax, coated it with clay, and fired it in a kiln. The wax melted and the clay hardened, forming a mold into which the molten bronze could be poured. The mold in then cut in sections to release the model, and the sections are reassembled after firing to form the mold for casting. If the object to be cast is a vessel, a core has to be placed inside the mold to provide the vessel’s cavity. The piece-mold method was most likely the only one used in China until at least the end of the Shang dynasty. Typically, Shang bronzes would be cast in sections and then soldered. Bronze is 90% copper and 10% tin.

Bronze was used in many ways by the Shang Dynasty. Unlike other regions of the world the Shang civilization didn’t just focus on making tools and weapons. Bronze objects affected the economy, culture, art and the arms of the state. Craftsman turned bronze castings into brilliant art. The designs embellished their pieces including geometric motifs, figures of animals, demons, and humans. They made bronze chariots, wine goblets, tools, ceramics, weapons, harnesses, fittings, and bronze vessels (like the one to the left) with worship which played an important role in the material culture of the time. Bronze wares were under mass production. They fell mainly into two classifications; cooking vessels and alcohol containers. The Shang Dynasty marked the coming of Bronze Age.

The Shang invention of bronze affects us today. We use bronze in so many ways. Sometimes we use it for just art and decorative purposes, like in statues, and frames. We also use it to for musical instrument, like the trumpet. Bronze medals are given for awards in various competitions which represent their place.

The Shang contributions to culture are remarkable. It is truly amazing that they were able to create works of art with out the technology we have today. The workmanship on the bronzes attests to a high level of civilization.

Three Questions

1. What two metals make bronze? 2. The Shang Dynasty is generally known as the _ of China. 3. What was one of the things that bronze affected. Shang Bronze Bronze Bells