Iconological Study of Astronomical Tomb-Imagery in the Han Dynasty

• Main Authors: Chuang Hui Chih, 莊蕙芷
• Other Authors: Huang Tsui Mei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/80266354668824683510

碩士 === 臺南藝術學院 === 藝術史與藝術評論研究所 === 92 === Study of Astronomical Tomb-Imagery in the Han Dynasty Abstract Keywords: iconology, expression, representation, astronomical image, the structure of tomb chamber, going to heaven, rising to the immortal world Based on current archaeological discoveries, decorating the ceiling of tomb chamber with astronomical images was an important funeral custom in ancient China. The first astronomical tomb-imagery came out of Mawangdui (dated early 2ed century BCE), going through over 400 years of development and evolution in West Han, Hsin, and East Han Dynasty, has become the foundation for future astronomical tomb-iamgery. This study investigated the first appeared of the image of Han Dynasty. Since middle and late West Han Dynasty, the structure of tomb chamber had transformed into “underground housing” with astronomical image on the ceiling. The changes and integration of astronomical image and the structure of the tomb chamber top resulted in a series of interaction. Such transformation was closely related to the funeral beliefs in Han Dynasty. The tomb chamber art in Han Dynasty laid emphasis on ways to paradise. From the perspective of art history and iconology, the first appearance of astronomical tomb-imagery was related to the view of the universe in Pre-Qin Dynasty. The passing of time and change in space brought new interpretation to images, and converted the images into a level of new symbolic meaning. From fear of Heaven in late Warring States to aspiration the immortal world in late East Han Dynasty, the astronomical tomb-imagery appeared in varied forms and contents. The application and changes of main themes showed the attempt to imitate the real sky in the early days to aesthetics of the entire image of Han Chinese, and their ideas of this kind of image transformed from “the Sky” to “the Immortal world”. This paper is comprised of five chapters. Chapter 1 Introduction presents the research purpose and motive, and outlines the literature review and research methodology. Chapter 2 focuses on the astronomical motif and decorations in the tomb chamber of the time before Early Chin Dynasty. Chapter 3 unfolds the archaeological data, and probes into the heritage and development of astronomical image in the tomb chamber from perspectives of decoration and architecture. Chapter 4 discusses the meaning and transformation of images from the perspective of visual arts. Chapter 5 summarizes the archaeological excavation after Han Dynasty and concludes this paper. Art history was the main research tool used to compile archaeological data, and research on iconology probed the significance of astronomical tomb-imagery of Han Dynasty under context of past researches, archaeology, and art.