Copper standing cattle excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning Western Han Dynasty
Author Fan Haitao
Cattle have come from ancient times along with humans, and cattle were one of the first large animals domesticated by humans. The Paleolithic petroglyphs found in the caves of Altamira in Spain date back more than 10,000 years, and "The Wounded Bison" in the "Bull Hall" is one of the most important works in the history of world art. According to archaeological data, it is conservatively estimated that cattle were domesticated in the Near East more than 7500 years ago. Neolithic cattle have become an important animal companion for humans. A large number of animal bones have been found in Neolithic archaeology in Yunnan, and cattle bones have appeared in many places. There is also no shortage of images of cattle in Cangyuan petroglyphs. In the Bronze Age, the cattle on the bronze ware in Yunnan can be described as a flourishing moment, leading the way, and occupying an important historical position in the cultural history of China and even the world.
The Niuhu copper case unearthed in Jiangchuan Lijiashan warring states
Species of cattle on bronzes in Yunnan
The cattle on the Bronze Ware of Yunnan did not appear until the Spring and Autumn Period, and reached its peak from the Warring States to the Western Han Dynasty, and the number was large, becoming one of the important themes of Bronze Art in Yunnan, which lasted until the end of the Yunnan Bronze Age in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Chuxiong Wanjiaba unearthed five copper hoes decorated with bull heads, which were precious works of art in the late Spring and Autumn period and the earliest cow images found on Yunnan bronzes so far. The bull's head is a cast male side image, and the horns, nose, bull's eye, and cow's mouth are very clearly depicted, which can be seen that people had a considerable degree of familiarity and understanding of cattle at that time. In the bronze six animal model excavated from the Warring States period from the Xiangyun Dabona Copper Coffin Tomb, there is a three-dimensional sculpture of a cow cast by Hefan, and the back of the cow's shoulder has a clear bulge, which is consistent with the "peak cow" commonly found in Yunnan during the Western Han Dynasty. In the central Yunnan region from the Warring States to the Eastern Han Dynasty, cattle appeared in large numbers on bronze ware, which was an important symbol of the wealth and status of the Dian kingdom. The species depicted in the Yunnan bronze ware related to cattle images probably include the following:
Peak cattle. The peak cow, also known as the "sealed cow" or "calf cow", is named because of its huge nodular protrusions on its shoulders and backs, and there are many species, which were once one of the main cattle breeds in Asia. Its ancestor was the Indianox, usually milky white, sometimes with rat-colored or black markings. The cow has a raised hump on its back is its biggest feature. Fengniu is resistant to heat, ticks and diseases, and is easy to raise, and is the most important source of meat in Yunnan. This is also the most seen cattle on Yunnan bronzes.
Engraved yak on a shell vessel Western Han Dynasty
yak. Yak is rare in Yunnan bronzes. A piece of "hunting scene stacked drum-shaped copper shell vessel" excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning collection by the Yunnan Provincial Museum has a yak standing under a tree. The craftsmen meticulously carved the long fine hairs, huge double horns, and broom-shaped tail of the yak, which is known at a glance. Shizhaishan has also unearthed several pieces of copper bull heads, from the cow's forehead to the nose, there are thick long hairs covered, from the shape analysis, it should be the yak head. Shizhai Mountain is located on the shore of Dianchi Lake, the Climate of the Western Han Dynasty was warm, it belonged to the tropical and subtropical climate, the yak was not natively raised, and its source is likely to be related to the "Yak Qiang" group in the Bashu region. The appearance of yaks on bronze vessels indicates that the Dian people at that time knew and were familiar with this large livestock living in the alpine mountains.
Gilded gold duo tied cattle bronze buckle ornament excavated from Jinning Shizhai Mountain Western Han Dynasty
White-limbed bison. The white-limbed bison is named because of its white limbs, its large body, thick limbs, a bulge in the middle of the head, and a ridge similar to that of a peak cow on the back of the shoulder, but extends backwards to the back of the buttocks. Although we can't see the color of the cow from the bronze, from its physical characteristics, the white-limbed bison did appear on the Yunnan bronze. In 1996, the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology conducted the fifth rescue excavation of Jinning Shizhai Mountain, and unearthed a "gilded two-man copper buckle ornament". The cow has a "peak" on its back, but the horn is bent downwards and then upturned, and its body shape is special. This cow is generally considered to be a peak cow, but when we look closely, the bulge on the back of the cow is different from the shape of the peak cow, and the shape of the forehead bulge is closer to that of the white-limbed bison.
Carved bull-shaped monster on the shell vessel Western Han Dynasty
Bull-shaped monster. The bull-shaped monster only appears in a "hunting scene stacked drum-shaped copper shell vessel" excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning. This bull-shaped monster has hooves, a long tail, and a hump bulge on its back, but its head has no horns, its ears are erect, and it has two long, upwardly curved teeth between its nose and snout, which resemble ivory. It also had a strange protrusion on its forehead, like a horn, like a short crank axe growing from its head. This "bull-shaped unicorn monster" may have really existed in the Yunnan Kingdom, but it disappeared with the extinction of the species. Another possibility is that this "cow-shaped unicorn monster" is a figment of the Dian people's yearning for "elephants". Among the cultural relics excavated from Shizhai Mountain, we have found a small amount of ivory-like residues, so it is likely that the Dian people have only seen ivory and have not witnessed the real elephant, and only based on hearsay and "fabricated" this "bull-shaped monster", the "single horn" of the head, and may also integrate some of the characteristics of the mythical and legendary unicorn in China. The Han Dynasty believed that the female unicorn had a horn.
Copper ornaments of bull's heads unearthed from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning Western Han Dynasty
Other cattle. In addition to the above several cattle and cow-shaped monsters, other special cattle images also appear in Yunnan bronzes, such as a "bull head copper ornament" excavated from Shizhaishan in Jinning, which some researchers believe may be a buffalo according to the shape of its horns; while other researchers believe that its horns grow from the middle of the forehead, and the base is connected together, with the characteristics of African buffalo. What kind of cow this device is, to be examined.
The cattle sacrifice copper buckle excavated from Lijiashan mountain in Jiangchuan Western Han Dynasty
Scene of cattle slaughtering sacrifice on the copper shell vessel excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning (partial) Western Han Dynasty
Sacrifice of cattle and Dian people
Cattle were a symbol of wealth and status during the Bronze Age in Yunnan. More than 2,000 years ago, the Dian people worshiped cattle very much, which was a "sacrifice" dedicated to the "gods" and was also the object of worship. In the ritual activities of the Dian Kingdom, there is almost no sign of cattle everywhere. On the lid of a "Curse of the League Copper Shell Vessel" excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning, there is an image of the Dian people killing cattle sacrifice - under the high pavilion, a cow lies on the ground, the cow's tongue sticks out of its mouth, its eyes are slightly closed, and it has been killed. On the left is a man with a high-haired bun, kneeling long in front of the ox's belly, as if muttering prayers. In the rear, there is a half-human-tall amphora with a large dagger placed horizontally on it, which may be a tool for cooking cattle. On the right side of the cow, there are people holding knives to kill pigs, and some people in the rear are blowing gourds and dancing. On other sacrificial occasions on ancient Dian bronzes, cow heads, beef ribs, beef legs, etc., have also appeared many times as sacrifices. In 2019, the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology discovered an isolated island in the southwest corner of Bosuo Village in Jinning River, with rows and rows of large-scale pillar holes, and a whole cow (northwest) and fierce dog (southeast) sacrifice pits in the middle. This can be seen in connection with the scene of sacrifice in bronzes.
Rectangular bullfighting copper buckle excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning Western Han Dynasty
The world's earliest bullfighting scene
The Dian people not only sacrificed cattle, but also sacrificial activities were often combined with bullfighting and cattle binding. The Dian people are one of the first people in the world to hold bullfighting activities, and dian bullfighting is a life-and-death struggle between people and cattle.
A "rectangular bullfighting bronze buckle" excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning recreates the tense scene of the Dian people's bullfighting appearance - in the wooden 3-story stands, the top floor sits 10 people, the middle is the master, and the 8 people on both sides may be VIPs or attendants. There were 9 people sitting on the middle floor, and one of the squatters at the head of the door held a long stick protruding from the door and opened the door with force; there were 4 kneeling people on both sides, the 4 people on the right were slightly changed due to the impact of the rushing bull, and the 4 people on the left were unmoved. There are 9 people in the lowest left 5 right 4, some people are startled and avoided, some people open their mouths and shout, and some people ignore it...
Six-man cattle brass buckle excavated from Shizhai Mountain in Jinning Western Han Dynasty
Another piece of "six-man copper buckle ornament for tying cattle" unearthed from Shizhai Mountain shows the fierce struggle of bullfighting. A vigorous and hairy bull galloped on all fours on two coiled long snakes (one of which was broken), its eyes wide open and its nose flared, making it seem that one could hear its roar and smell its sniffles. Four men are wrestling with him for life and death, and one of them grabs the horn of the cow with both hands. It is well known that the neck of the cow is its weakness, and those who are good at bullfighting can fall down by grabbing the horn and twisting it. The Dian people also seemed to be familiar with this skill; the other two put their hands on the back of the cow; the other pressed the back of the cow with his left hand and pulled the tail of the bull with his right hand; and one was picked to the ground by the galloping bull, and his head was on his feet, and his life was at stake. The cow also has a broken left arm on its front leg.
These two bronzes present the world's earliest bullfighting scene, with vivid and realistic shapes, and the scenes are fiercely shocking.
(Author Affilications:Yunnan Provincial Museum Photo courtesy of Yunnan Provincial Museum)