Lobed Mirror with Heaven and Earth between the Paired Phoenixes
mid to late 700s
Maker Unknown
Chinese Art
Lobed Mirror with Heaven and Earth between the Paired Phoenixes, mid to late 700s. China, Tang dynasty (618-907). Bronze; diameter: 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.); overall: 1.1 cm (7/16 in.); rim: 0.7 cm (1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1995.351 This mirror contains cosmological symbolism with heaven represented by a large circle at top and earth by a square at bottom.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Metalwork
- Formatted Medium
- bronze
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.); Overall: 1.1 cm (7/16 in.); Rim: 0.7 cm (1/4 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: 上圓下方，象于天地。 中列八填，備著陰陽。 辰星鎮定，日月貞明。 周流為水，以名四瀆。 內置連山，以旌王岳。 Translation: Circle above and square below: These are symbols of heaven and earth. In the middle are the Eight Trigrams, Making clear [the forces of] yin and yang. Stars and constellations are well aligned; The sun and the moon are virtuous and bright. Circulating around [the earth] is water, Giving identity to the Four Great Rivers. Within are the mountain ranges, To signify the lordly heights.
- Departments
- Chinese Art
- Accession Number
- 1995.351
- Credit Line
- Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee
- Exhibitions
- Circles of Reflection: The Carter Collection of Chinese Bronze Mirrors, La voie du Tao, un autre chemin de l'Etre
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 239 Chinese Ceramics and Metalwork
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