Bronze civilization-bronze casting technology

Since the Yellow River Basin entered the Bronze Age, the smelting of copper ore and the casting of bronzes have been carried out separately, and the casting technology of bronzes in Shang Dynasty has reached a high level.

Judging from the pottery molds, crucibles, pottery molds, clay cores, pottery molds, copper smelting slag, copper ore, charcoal and other items unearthed from bronze relics in Shang Dynasty, there are many kinds of tools for casting different objects.

Types of copper melting stoves in the early Shang dynasty;

1. Large-opening copper melting crucible modified with argillaceous gray pottery. 2. Crucibles transformed from sand red clay pots. 3 ? A crucible made of clay piles.

Tools for copper melting furnace in the late Shang Dynasty: 1. One is the earthen furnace, which is also the shaft furnace. 2. Well furnace. 3. Small ceramic copper smelting container sand furnace. 4. Pottery related to molten bronze.

Large copper melting furnaces and small copper melting crucibles in Shang Dynasty met the pouring needs of different types of bronzes at that time. In Shang dynasty, copper was melted by internal heating, that is, copper and charcoal were added to the furnace and blown to burn. The internal heating method can make the melting temperature of copper higher, which is beneficial to the direct contact between charcoal and copper, avoiding the oxidation of copper and improving the quality of castings.

The casting method of bronze wares in Shang Dynasty is mainly fan casting method. Fan casting can be divided into mud casting and parting casting. The casting method of one-time casting is called mud casting. The casting method that requires multiple casting is called separate casting.

Clay casting is the earliest bronze casting method, which is mainly used to cast some simple small objects. The separate casting method appeared with the need of container casting in the later period, and it was parallel to the mud casting method.

To understand ancient Chinese bronzes, it is necessary to understand their crafts, so as to have a clear judgment on the artifacts.