浅析中国酒器文化 - 英.doc

Analysis of Chinese Drinking Vessel CultureAbstract：Drinking vessel, a vessel which is used to hold wine, is a tool people use to reserve, hold and drink wine. Just as calligraphy is particular about the scholars four jewels(writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), tea is particular about exquisite tea set, Chinese has always deemed that delicious food is inferior to exquisite vessel. When people are drinking, they are not only particular about people, environment, seasons, especially, whether the drinking vessel is fine or not, suitable or not.Key words: drinking vessel; history; change No matter in modern or ancient times, wine has penetrated into the political, economy, literature, art, food, health and other aspects of the social life. Where there is wine, there is drinking vessel. Together with spirits culture, drinking vessels as important carriers of culture become an important part of Chinese traditional culture. Drinking vessels also contain history background, living environment, customs and habits, values etc in every dynasty. So the production and development of drinking vessels are almost with wine in such long history. It has experienced five historical periods.The initial stage During the invention of artificial grain wine, Emperor Yan and other ancient people also invented the earliest drinking vessels - pottery drinking vessels. This was the initial period of drinking vessesl in our country. Pottery drinking vessels which belonged to the Yangshao culture(the important Neolithic culture in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, was found in Henan province Sanmenxia city Mianchi County Yangshao village in 1921), were usually painted of colorful, vivid and chic patterns. They had not only the value in use, also a very high value of artistic appreciation. White pottery appeared from the late Neolithic Age to the Shang Dynasty. Artificial prehistoric vessels currently known were divided into pottery drinking vessels and lacquer vessels on the basis of materials. In which, the pottery vessels were the mainstream. From the color, Pottery vessels could be divided into colorful pottery, grey pottery, terracotta, white pottery, black pottery and so on. Neolithic archaeological culture varied considerably in different areas. Because of the strong local characteristics, drinking vessels showed different shapes and combinations at that time. The production-level was relatively low in the prehistoric period. And the wines were rare luxuries for the general ethnic members. Therefore, exquisite drinking vessels only appeared in large tombs. Although Prehistoric period had complete drinking vessels for holding, warming, pouring and drinking, the shape seemed to be not yet completely out of touch with the nature. They were simple and lovely and exuded the breath of the earth. Shang and Zhou period The Shang and Zhou era were the Chinese bronze culture prosperous period and also the formation period of drinking vessels in our country. In the two times, Bronze drinking vessels were the most popular ones. According to Ronggengs the general theory of the Zhou bronzes”, statistics showed drinking vessels accounted for 24 classes in 50 kinds of bronzes vessels. Whats more，each class of drinking vessels had a variety of styles. The ornamentation, modeling, inscriptions of Bronze drinking vessels, embodied not only the ruling idea of the slave society, but also peoples persistent pursuit of beauty. It brought a very big impact on the later art of sculpture and calligraphy. Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States, were the periods that pottery and bronze drinking vessels gradually transited into the iron drinking vessels. Qin and Han dynasty Qin and Han dynasty were the developmental periods of drinking vessels. During the Han Dynasty, Chinese drinking vessels had been basically finalized. it was mainly divided into four categories for drinking，fetching, holding and storing. lacquer vessels had develop into the mainstream in the Han Dynasty. Besides lacquer vessels, there were pottery vessels, bronze vessels, glass vessels, jade cups, conch cups etc in Han Dynasty. In the succession of the Warring States lacquer art style, the lacquer vessels had the innovation both in shape, pattern, color, with paint, wooden products characteristic beauty. Lacquer craft is a great invention of our ancestors. In the long-term production practice, the ancients found natural juice cut from sumac could not only be used as coating resistant to against the moisture, high temperature, corrosion, but also could produce different colors, shining. This invention had reached the pinnacle of success. Black and red color lacquer vessels were the mainstream. There were various lacquer vessels. According to different objects, lacquer pattern enhanced peoples or animals movement and strength with rough, simple lines or elaborate complex composition. At the same time, gold, silver, jade were also used only in nobles and rich class. During this period, the drinking vessel showed its variety and prosperity. Drinking vessels with different textures also imitated mutually. Tang dynastyTang dynasty was the mature period of the drinking vessels. Cup and glass were the mainly devices in Tang Dynasty. In which, the most famous wine glasses were made of jade carved from luminous wine glass”. Drinking Vessels for fetching were shaped to scoop, usually wooden scoop. The action that one taked wine into the cup with scoop was called pour wine. Drinking vessels were mainly wine goblets, which were usually made by copper, were called golden goblet”. Goblets could contain and warm wine. Drinking vessels usually with handle and stream mouth kettle were evolved from teapots. Pots were used for storage. One used it to retrieve and warm the wine after pouring wine into the goblet. During and after the Song Dynasty, distilled liquor had become common in China. Generally it didnt need heating for drinking. Thus drinking vessels became simpler. Pots used for storage were replaced by pottery, altar. Meanwhile, bottles, dipper were gradually replaced by the stream mouth cup. Only the cups were used for drinking as usual. Hence, the glass production became more exquisite.Ming and Qing dynasty Ancient Chinese porcelain drinking vessels developed prosperously during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The bottle in the Ming Dynasty was highly characteristic and made according to different occasions. The function of Bottles was no longer just for drinking. Larger and smaller ones had become decorative gift items, curios. Compared to prior tri-colored glazed pottery etc, the Qing Dynasty porcelain drinking vessels is more multicolored. In the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Kangxi, numerous antique bronze drinking vessels were produced. At that time, the gold and jade drinking vessel exceeded the former dynasties from technology, mode, variety, quantity. Especially the jade drinking vessels were almost unprecedented and unrepeatable. Fine porcelain drinking vessel led the dominant position with its peculiar characteristics. Its durable and cheap quality made it to be the mainstream of the drinking utensils and occupied the drinking vessel market. In The Ming and Qing Dynasty, drinking vessels became more elaborate with mature technologies. They were often painted with the landscape, flowers and birds. Thus, they became truly works of art, presenting the colorful characteristics of the time. Chinese drinking vessels as the etiquette system carriers, always showed the status of the society. Hence, drinking vessels in gold and silver only belonged to the Royal utensils. Modern timeAs far as materials are concerned, Modern drinking vessels are basically divided into four categories, three types. The four categories are: category of glass, ceramic, metal, plastic; three categories are: wooden, leather, jade. From the shape, in addition to square, flat, round, simulation profile of animal and plant are made. The main Colors are light, bright, dark and green. The most prominent feature of modern drinking vessels are the aluminum alloy cans brought from abroad. Of course, the traditional, unique tank, altar, gourd shaped shaker remain welcome. Another character is the operating character that people pay more attention to. Nevertheless, the decoration and appreciation are relatively weakened. That may be well