Squeezing mind out of metal: combining textual evidence with scientific data for metallurgy in early dynastic China

Abstract

Since one of the aims of modern archaeometallurgy is to understand the processes carried out by ancient metalworkers, then ideally, we need to go beyond the traditional sources of evidence for such processes — physical investigation and chemical analysis of the objects themselves, and associated manufacturing debris. In order to understand the intentionality behind the decisions taken by these metalworkers (the ‘why’, in addition to the ‘how’), then we need to ‘see the world’ as the metalworkers themselves did. The key issue is how to traverse the gulf between ancient and modern perceptions of the natural world. Using ancient Chinese bronze metalwork as an example, we argue that many interesting glimpses of this world can be drawn from the contemporary and later literary sources. But it is crucial to note that these insights have to be supported by independent evidence, such as scientific data or archaeological information. Once verified, these findings can significantly improve our knowledge of the metaphysical perception of metal in the past and offer a heuristic and powerful tool to interpret the relationship between metallurgy and society. For the Chinese Bronze Age, metallurgy performed a crucial part in the political and ritual world. In particular, the different colours of metal objects provide important indicators of the social hierarchy as evidenced by burial practice.