- Research Article
- 10.3724/2096-1715.2024.008.001.036
A Study on the Image of Mountain-Shaped Crown in Han Dynasty Stone Carvings
- Jan 01, 2024
- Museum
- Ai Fei
During Han Dynasty, people pursued the art of immortality, and the prevailing custom of “treating death as if it were life” was luxurions burial. As a result, “immortality” and “luxurions burial” were cleverly combined. And these trends were mainly presented in tombs by portrait stones, portrait bricks, murals, etc., creating a rich and colorful scene of the immortal realm, hoping that the tomb owner could reach the immortal realm to obtain immortality. The “Mountain-shaped Crown” is a unique crown decoration depicted in Han Dynasty wore by Dongwanggong(东王公), Xiwangmu(西王母), Taiyi (太一), Fuxi(伏羲), Nyuwa(女娲), Chengwang(成王), Qinshihuang(秦始皇), etc. Later, even Qilin(麒麟), Goumang(句芒), and unidentified immortals wore mountain-shaped crowns, too. Through collecting illustrations and literature records related to the mountain-shaped crown in Han portrait stones, this paper preliminarily believes that the mountain-shaped crown is a symbolic element used by Han Dynasty craftsmen to express the pursuit of immortality, meanwhile the identity and status of the wearer of the crown are relatively respected.
Read more