Analysis of the Artistic Characteristics of Type III Large Bronze Drums in Guangxi

Abstract

In Guangxi, three types of bronze drums have been categorized based on the nomenclature of standard instruments named after their places of discovery: the Lengshuichong type, the Beiliu type, and the Lingshan type. This period also marks the zenith of bronze drum development, often referred to as the era of divine and significant instruments. An analysis of the artistic characteristics of these three types of large bronze drums from Guangxi offers insights into the ancient primitive beliefs of the Zhuang and Dong ethnic groups' ancestors. Through the examination of the decorations and shapes of these three types of large bronze drums, one can appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the changing shapes of the drums and the aesthetic connotations of the bronze drum culture, which embody the concepts of meaning, imagery, auspiciousness, and beauty. This includes the devout beliefs in worshipping heaven and earth through bronze drums, the connection between humans and nature, and the cosmological understanding of the universe.