Ba–Shu scripts
{{Short description|Three undeciphered scripts}}
{{Infobox Chinese|t=巴蜀圖語|s=巴蜀图语|p=Bā Shǔ tú yǔ|l=Ba and Shu picture script}}
The Ba–Shu scripts are three undeciphered scripts found on bronzeware from the ancient kingdoms of Ba and Shu in the Sichuan Basin of southwestern China in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Numerous signature seals have been found in Ba–Shu graves, suggesting that the states used written records, though none have been found.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|pp=73–74}} The known inscriptions are too few to be deciphered, or even to identify the language recorded.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|p=75}}
Scripts
The first script consists of pictographic symbols decorating weapons found in Ba graves in eastern Sichuan.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|p=74}}
About two hundred individual symbols have been identified. The most common depict human faces, hands and figures, tigers, turtles, dragons, flowers, birds and cicadas. There are also some abstract forms.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|pp=59–59}}{{sfnp|Shen|2002|p=85}}
The longest inscription, on a lacquer tray found near Changsha, Hunan, consists of 11 symbols.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|p=59}}
The second script is found in both western and eastern Sichuan, on five halberd blades, a belt buckle and the base of a bronze vessel. Some scholars believe this script to be phonetic, pointing to similarities between some of the symbols and symbols of the later Yi script.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|pp=74–75, 244–245}}{{sfn|Li|2000|p=20}}
Except for one symbol resembling the Chinese character 王 ("king"), the symbols cannot be connected with Chinese characters, or with the earlier pictographic script.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|p=74}}
The third script is known from a single sample, an inscription on the lid of a bronze vessel found in a grave in Baihuatan, Chengdu dating from c. 476 BC. It may also be phonetic.{{sfnp|Sage|1992|pp=74–75}}
Gallery
=Scripts=
File:Ba-Shu scripts (anthropomorphic symbols).png|Symbols resembling human forms
File:Ba-Shu scripts (resembling animals).png|Symbols resembling animals
File:Ba-Shu scripts (resembling plants).png|Symbols resembling plants
File:Ba-Shu scripts (resembling everyday objects).png|Symbols resembling everyday objects
File:Ba-Shu scripts (resembling architectural elements).png|Symbols resembling architectural elements
File:Ba-Shu scripts (geometric symbols) 1.png|Symbols using geometric shapes
File:Ba-Shu scripts (geometric symbols) 2.png|Symbols using geometric shapes
File:Ba-Shu scripts (geometric symbols) 3.png|Symbols using geometric shapes
File:Ba-Shu scripts (geometric symbols) 4.png|Symbols using geometric shapes
File:Ba-Shu scripts (geometric symbols) 5.png|Symbols using geometric shapes
=Artefacts=
File:Mao spearhead with Ba symbols.jpg|Spearhead with pictographic Ba symbols
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_008.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_009.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_010.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_011.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_012.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_013.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_014.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_015.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_016.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_017.jpg
File:四川省博物院館藏文物_018.jpg
See also
References
{{reflist|20em}}
Works cited
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
- {{citation
| title = The glorious traditions of Chinese bronzes
| surname = Li | given = Xueqin | author-link = Li Xueqin
| location = Singapore | publisher = Asian Civilisations Museum, National Heritage Board | year = 2000
| isbn = 978-981-4068-04-8
| postscript = .
}}
- {{citation
| title = Ancient Sichuan and the Unification of China
| surname = Sage | given = Steven F.
| publisher = SUNY Press | year = 1992 | isbn = 978-0-7914-1037-0
| postscript = .
}}
- {{citation
| title = Anyang and Sanxingdui: Unveiling the Mysteries of Ancient Chinese Civilizations
| surname = Shen | given = Chen
| publisher = Royal Ontario Museum | location = Toronto | year = 2002 | isbn = 978-0-88854-441-4
| postscript = .
}}
{{refend}}
Further reading
- {{citation
| title = Late Bronze Age seals of Szechwan
| given = Robert A. | surname = Jones
| journal = Monumenta Serica | volume = 37 | year = 1986–87 | pages = 233–275
| doi = 10.1080/02549948.1986.11731192 | jstor = 40726800 | ref = none
| postscript = .
}}
External links
- [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5348256 Rhinoceros-form Ba–Shu seal], Christies sale 2509, lot 899.
- [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5348255 Ram-form Ba–Shu seal], Christies sale 2509, lot 898.
- [http://en.artron.net/auction/showpic.php?picid=art95830854 Square Ba–Shu seal]
- [http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ics/amm/acquisition/epigraphy_18e.htm Tiger-form Ba–Shu seal], City University of Hong Kong.
{{Sichuan topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ba-Shu scripts}}