Century Baoding
Total height: 2.6m
Ding height: 2. 1 m
Diameter:1.5m.
Seat: 2m× 2m× 0.5m
Total weight: 2600 kg
The Origin of "Baoding in the Century"
Shanghai Jiafeng Special Art Company was established in 1992. Under the planning of general manager Lu, it was clearly stated that the purpose of "Jiafeng Special Art" was to "let the world know about China's special art and let China's special art go global", and the magazine "Special Art World" was founded for this purpose. This magazine seems unknown, but it has won the world's attention by publishing special artists with unique skills and their exquisite special works. Thanks to the introduction of Mr. Xu who works in the United Nations, Secretary-General Gary was deeply attracted and moved by the charm of traditional special art in China when he saw the first issue of "World of Special Art". He made an exception and wrote a congratulatory message to the special arts community: "I am very happy to pay tribute to the readers of the special arts community. Through magazines like Special Art World, people all over the world can exchange information and get to know each other, thus contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and development. This is also the goal of the UN Charter. "
Gary's message is undoubtedly a very precious and special gift for Jiafeng Special Arts. At that time, Lu, the general manager, discussed with several leading colleagues of the company: China is the hometown of Zhong Ding and the state of etiquette. Out of courtesy, can you send a small tripod to Mr. Gary, or even a big tripod to the United Nations to celebrate her upcoming 50th birthday? Because the tripod is a symbol of China's long history and ancient culture, and it is also a pearl in the treasure house of world civilization history and art, as early as ancient times, the tripod was a kind of cooker used by China ancestors. "Food is the most important thing for the people", and people attached importance to the tripod, which later developed into a ritual vessel. As a ritual vessel, the tripod symbolizes unity, unity and authority, while in modern times it symbolizes peace, development and prosperity.
The Birth of "Baoding in the Century"
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the people of China presented the bronze tripod "Century Baoding" made by President Jiang Zemin to the United Nations on June1995+1October 2/KLOC-0. President Jiang and former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali jointly unveiled the awarding ceremony of "Baoding of the Century". This feat has become a remarkable page in China's diplomatic history, pushing the "Baoding news fever" that has been set off all over the world to a climax. Its scope and duration are unprecedented, and it was one of the top ten international news of that year. "Century Baoding" is a fine work of art with the bronze style of Shang and Zhou Dynasties. It was cast as a whole and successfully poured at one time. Its design and production have been demonstrated many times, and it was completed under the careful guidance of domestic experts and cultural relics archaeologists. "Century Baoding" is 2. 1 m high, symbolizing 2 1 century; Caliber 1.5m, weight 1.5t ... Its posture is three-legged, its ears are towering and covered with ornamentation. Inscription is engraved on the inner wall of the tripod: "Cast the Century tripod to celebrate the 50th birthday of the United Nations." Jinding (base) is 0.5 meters high and 2 meters square, with 56 dragon patterns cast on it, symbolizing that the Chinese nation is the descendants of dragons. Before and after the ban, the words "Baoding in the Century", 1995 10 from China people and country "were engraved in gold. The tripod is round and forbidden, with majestic and peaceful shape, grand momentum, simple and elegant, beautiful and solemn. It fully embodies the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation.
"Century Baoding" Design
At the end of 1994 10, "Jiafeng Special Art" received instructions from the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office: we should pay close attention to the design of "Century Baoding". Due to the long history of tripod making in China, different dynasties have different artistic styles. So what style tripod should I choose for the United Nations? With the help of China Archaeological Society of Science and Technology, first-class bronze archaeologists from Shaanxi, Shanghai and Beijing were invited to review the preliminary design of Jiafeng Special Art and Xiaoding, which had been cast into a physical model, and listened to their opinions. Then, under the personal care and guidance of Mr. Ma Chengyuan, a famous bronze expert in China and director of Shanghai Museum, he decided to design the "Century Baoding" based on the most famous Dading in China from the late Shang Dynasty to the early Western Zhou Dynasty.
The design work led by Lu, under the guidance of Mr. Ma Chengyuan, watched the bronze tripod in the museum and turned over the materials to design the decorative patterns of Baoding; Also, please ask the sculptor concerned to make a tripod mold of 1: 1, and ask experts to improve the shape of the tripod. It took 100 days and nights from the beginning of design to finalization.
The "tripod" was designed with reference to Shang and Zhou bronzes, which was Mr. Ma Chengyuan's idea. In this way, not only the tripod is the same age as the base, but also the style is integrated, which meets the requirements of the United Nations for the tripod to be as light as possible. Ma Lao also personally wrote "Casting Opinions of Century Baoding", which put forward improvement requirements for the design of the tripod, and put forward very valuable opinions on ornamentation, vessel seat, inscription, casting and so on.
Mr. Ma Chengyuan personally checked, which made the design and modeling of Century Baoding progress smoothly and avoided detours. The participation of domestic first-class experts ensures the high-level design of Century Baoding and the bronze art style of Shang and Zhou Dynasties. In this respect, Century Baoding stands out.
"Century Baoding" is 2. 1 m high, symbolizing the coming 2 1 century. Three legs are upright, two ears are towering, the abdomen is slightly bulging, and the bottom is round. The Shang and Zhou dynasties are surrounded by gluttonous ornamentation, with animal faces to ward off evil spirits and moire patterns to fill the bottom.
The tripod is 50 cm high, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Fifty-six dragons are banned, representing the people of China, and China is made up of fifty-six ethnic groups, all descendants of dragons.
Inside the tripod, there is a gold inscription by Mr. Ma Chengyuan: "Cast the Century tripod to celebrate the 50th birthday of the United Nations". Before and after the tripod, there are Ding's signatures: "Century Baoding" and "1995 10 from China people and country".
Ding is a round ban, and the whole Baoding is simple and dignified, magnificent and magnificent. Many experts at home and abroad spoke highly of Century Baoding as a magnificent work with successful design.
Century Baoding is located in the North Garden of the United Nations Headquarters Building in new york, USA.
Century Baoding
On the eve of the 50th anniversary, the United Nations got a precious birthday present-a giant bronze ware presented by the people of China-Century Baoding.
Century Baoding is placed on the green lawn of the North Garden of the United Nations Building. The tripod is 0.5 meters high, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The height of the tripod is 2. 1 m, which symbolizes the coming 2 1 century. Ding weighs 1.5 tons, with three feet and two ears, a slightly bulging belly and a round bottom, surrounded by Shang and Zhou decorative patterns, embossed animal faces and moire filling. The base is decorated with 56 dragons, symbolizing that all the 56 ethnic groups in China are descendants of dragons. On ZH Inner Casting (Ding Inner Casting), there is an inscription "Casting a Hundred-year Baoding to celebrate the 50th birthday of the United Nations". There are four golden characters "Century Baoding" in front of the tripod. On the back of the tripod is written "China people * * and country 1995 10 month". The whole Baoding of Zhàn is simple and elegant, with exquisite craftsmanship, and it is a magnificent masterpiece.
Ding is a kind of cooker used by ancient ancestors in China, and later developed into a ritual vessel. There are two phrases in China's idiom: Yes and "It's a deal", which reflects Ding's unique position in China's ancient social life. As an important ritual vessel, chāng symbolizes unity, unity and authority, and is a mascot representing peace, development and prosperity. Baoding in this century is a masterpiece of ancient bronze art in China, which combines ancient skills and modern technology in one furnace. Its overall structure, artistic modeling and decoration show the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation.
The United Nations cherishes gifts from all countries in the world, and each gift has its own meaning. China's bag has a deeper meaning. Zhi Ding is prosperous and Zhao Long is auspicious. It expresses the good wishes of the people of China to the United Nations and hopes for a better new century. This is also the common aspiration of peace-loving people all over the world.
The Significance and Historical Roots of Giving Baoding a Gift
1. Ding and Ancient Bronzes
Since the discovery of bronzes, human culture has jumped from primitive society to a new stage of civilization, and bronzes have become a distinctive symbol of the times.
Half of China's 5,000-year history of civilization was cast with brightly feathered bronzes. Judging from the earliest bronzes that appeared before 2000 BC, Erlitou culture in the Central Plains of the Yellow River Basin (that is, the eastern suburb of Luoyang, the ancient capital of the 13th Dynasty) and Qijia culture in its upper reaches have a history of more than 4,000 years, which has become a bronze age lasting more than 2,000 years and occupies an important position in the history of Chinese civilization. In the early Bronze Age, it was the Neolithic Age, and only pottery products were scattered, but in the late Bronze Age, they were replaced by porcelain and iron products. Therefore, in the long history of bronzes for more than two thousand years, its products are colorful and its craftsmanship is brilliant. There are all kinds of bronze dings as a symbol of power, as well as all kinds of court ritual vessels, sacrificial vessels, wine vessels, containers, daily necessities, furnishings and handicrafts, such as statues, pots, cups, cans, bells, lamps, stoves, etc., and their shapes are also spread all over dragons, tigers, cows, horses, sheep and deer. From daily necessities to musical instruments, from ornaments to weapons of war. It can be said that the starry and varied Modern Man completely records the history of China's civilization, and it is also evidence that the royal family, court, Houmen and Ors in previous dynasties were luxuriously decorated before their death, and pursued immortality after their death, and were buried with them expensively and richly.
All the ancient civilizations in the world have experienced the Bronze Age, and only ancient China endowed bronzes with important social significance, profound spiritual connotation and highly perfect artistic forms. The achievements of ancient bronze art in China were mainly embodied in the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, which lasted for more than two thousand years. Since modern times, a large number of bronzes have been unearthed, which has gradually clarified the long-term hazy ancient history of China.
China entered the class society from the Xia Dynasty, and the bronze manufacturing industry symbolizing national political power, military power and theocracy was completely monopolized by nobles. The manufacture of these bronzes is based on the will, needs and aesthetic wishes of the nobles. After more than 20 centuries of development and evolution, Chinese bronzes can be divided into the following periods:
development period
time division
Primitive period
descendant
Fashion prevailing period
The Shang Dynasty moved its capital to Yin (now Anyang, Henan Province) to the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, which was about the period from Wuding King of Shang Dynasty to the west.
Maturity of Western Zhou Style
Late Western Zhou Dynasty to Early Spring and Autumn Period
The prevailing period of Eastern Zhou style
Mid-Spring and Autumn Period to Warring States Period
The tripod in bronze ware was originally a very common cooker in ancient times, but its practical significance gradually weakened and became a symbol of power. The legend of Jiuding in Zhu Xia shows the important position of bronzes in the minds of the ancients. The event of "Winning the Central Plains" in the Spring and Autumn Period is the continuation of this concept. Now the largest bronze ware in ancient China, the Si Mu Wu Ding in Shang Dynasty, can make us feel the spirit shock of the Ding.
Two. An overview of ding culture
Ding is the representative of bronze culture in China. In ancient times, the tripod was regarded as a heavy weapon for the founding of the country and a symbol of state and power. People in China still have a sense of tripod worship, and the word "tripod" has been endowed with extended meanings such as "honor", "honor" and "grand", such as keeping promises, making famous, helping each other at its peak and so on. Ding is also a ritual vessel for meritorious service. In the Zhou Dynasty, monarchs or princes and ministers had to cast a tripod at major celebrations or receive awards to show their achievements and record the grand occasion.
Ding was endowed with sacred color, which originated from the legend of Jiuding. Ding was originally an ancient cooking utensil, equivalent to the current pot, used to stew and hold fish. Xu Shen said in Shuo Wen Jie Zi: "Ding, three feet and two ears, the treasure of five flavors." There are three-legged tripod and four-legged Fang Ding. The earliest tripod was made of clay, and later there was a bronze tripod made of bronze. Legend has it that Yu Xia once collected the gold of nine animal husbandry and cast Jiuding under Jingshan Mountain to symbolize Kyushu, and carved fascinating figures on it to alert people and prevent them from being hurt. Since the legend of Zhu Yu's nine cauldrons came into being, the cauldron has developed from an ordinary cooker to a national heavyweight vessel. From Shang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty, "Dingding" was the capital or established a dynasty. The country was destroyed, Ding moved, Xia dynasty was destroyed, Shang dynasty was prosperous, Jiuding moved to Beijing, and Shangdu. With the demise of Shang Dynasty, Zhou Chaoxing and Jiuding moved to Beijing.
There is an allusion to "winning the championship" in history, which comes from "Three Years of Zuo Zhuan Gong Xuan", to the effect that Chu Zhuangwang came to Luoyang to crusade against foreign enemies and inspect the army on the site of the Emperor of Zhou. King Ding of Zhou sent Doctor Wang to comfort him and took the opportunity to ask about the size. Wang Yue: The government is virtuous, the tripod is small and heavy, the monarch has no way, and the tripod is big and light. The Zhou Dynasty made a tripod for the Central Plains, and its power was a godsend. The weight of the tripod is not appropriate. Chu Zhuangwang won the championship, which means replacing the Zhou Dynasty. The result was severely reprimanded by the king's angel. Later, the plot to usurp the throne was called "winning the championship."
Ding is the witness of civilization and the carrier of culture. According to the legend of Zhu Yu Jiu Ding, it can be inferred that China had bronze smelting and casting technology as early as 4000 years ago; The bronze ding of Shang Dynasty unearthed underground proved conclusively that Shang Dynasty in China was a highly developed bronze age. The "Simuwu" Dafang Ding collected by China History Museum is a bronze tripod in the late Shang Dynasty. Rectangular, four legs, height 1.33cm, weight 835 kg. This is the largest bronze ware in Shang Dynasty. Ding belly has the word "Simuwe", which was cast by Shang Zhouwang as a sacrifice to his mother Wu. Da, Da and Mao He unearthed in the Qing Dynasty are all famous bronzes in the Western Zhou Dynasty. The inscriptions on bronze wares such as Ding recorded the laws and regulations of Shang and Zhou Dynasties and historical facts such as conferring titles, offering sacrifices and conquering. And handed down the seal script of the Western Zhou Dynasty to later generations, forming a bronze calligraphy art with high aesthetic value. Ding is therefore more valuable and becomes a more important historical relic than other bronzes. Li Zehou, an aesthetician, believes that Chinese bronzes, with their unique tripod as the core, are thick and solid, with hideous and mysterious patterns and deep carvings, and are the most aesthetic bronze works in the mature period of China bronze art.
Although the word "Ding" in modern Chinese characters has undergone many changes, such as Oracle Bone Inscriptions, inscriptions on bronze, seal script and official script. Up to now, it still retains the style and physical characteristics of "Ding", which is almost integrated with its characters and has rich cultural connotations.