Skip to Main Content

TLV Mirror with Four Spirits and Companions

四神博局式青铜鏡

9–100 CE
(202 BCE–220 CE)
bronze
Diameter: 19 cm (7 1/2 in.); Overall: 1.2 cm (1/2 in.); Rim: 0.7 cm (1/4 in.)
Weight: 1.099 kg (2.42 lbs.)
Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1995.301
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Description

The back of this mirror shows a diagram of the universe. The concentric rings and swirling cloud band border represent heaven, while the square field around the knob designates the earth. The four directional spirits in the form of animals occupy the space between heaven and earth and are cast in fine lines between the band of swirling clouds and outside the square: the tiger guarding the west, the dragon protecting the east, the red bird representing the south, and the snake-entwined turtle guarding the north.
TLV Mirror with Four Spirits and Companions

TLV Mirror with Four Spirits and Companions

9–100 CE

China, Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.