<論説>初現期の青銅彝器

Abstract

二里頭期・二里崗期の青銅彝器の精緻な編年案を組み立て、その作業を通じて初現期の青銅彝器の発達の様相をさぐることが本稿の目的である。まず同一器種内に存在する器形や装飾構成の異なる複数の系統を分類したうえで、各々について、紋様の種類や表現の変化のほか、柱帽の形態変化や紋様帯の増加、犠首の出現など、区別しやすい要素に注目して型式分類を行い、変遷を考察した。そして、特徴の共有関係によって青銅器相互の併行関係を検討した結果、二里頭期は二期、二里崗期は四期に細分しえた。これは、土器による分期ともほぼ対応すると考えられ、墓の出土資料の共伴関係によっても、その併行関係は裏付けられる。最後に、各器種の鋳型構造を先の編年案に照らしあわせて検討したところ、鋳型の構造が徐々に複雑になる過程が看取できた。土器を模倣して作り始められた青銅彝器は、鋳造技術の進歩にともない、あるいは加熱機能から装飾へと青銅の性質の利用の重点が転じたことによって、器種が増加し多様な器形．装飾が生み出されていったのであろう。

The purpose of this study is to examine the development of Chinese ritual bronzes of the early stage by considering the chronology of bronzes from the Er-li-tou (二里頭) and the Er-li-kang (二里崗) periods. Before formulating a chronology based on changes in vessel form and decorative style, varieties of shape and the combination of friezes within one vessel type, which was produced through the early periods, were carefully divided. Examination of contemporary examples of each type resulted in dividing the Er-li-tou period into two sub-periods and the Er-li-kang period into four sub-periods. These sub-periods coincide with the chronological division of pottery from the Er-li-tou III period to the later stage of the upper Er-li-kang. The development of the structure of casting molds is also considered. It can be pointed out that several types of bronzes, which served as ritual cooking vessels, began to be used rather than pottery. However, as casting techniques developped and decorations like the Tao-tie (饕餮) design became more and more exaggerated, the original function of the bronze vessels was forgotten, and new types came to be cast with many variations arising in each.