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Department:

The Museum Proper

Replica or Original:

On Display, In Storage, or in a Private Offsite Collection:

On Display

Primary Material:

Medium:

Dimensions:

Classification/Category:

Communication Objects

Specific Classification:

Notable Signatures,

Inscriptions, and/or Markings:

Donated by:

Unknown

Accession Number

Artifact Date:

Artifact Era/Dynasty:

Unknown

Creator:

Chinese

Creator Ancestry:

00:00 / 01:05

The transparent bronze mirror of the Western Han Dynasty, also known as the "transparent treasure mirror", is a very precious national treasure of China. It is said that this kind of mirror was made by skilled craftsmen for the royal family and the court.


The face of the "Transparent Mirror" is slightly convex, but it is very smooth, bright and clear. When the sun shines on the mirror, the pattern on the back is reflected on the white wall, mysteriously. Because of this mysterious color, the ancients believed that "transparent mirror" "The treasure mirror" can drive away evil spirits and treat them as gods.


The technology behind the "transparent mirror" has long been unknown, and scientists have debated the reasons behind it for more than a thousand years. Now, there are only four original "transparent mirrors" displayed in the Shanghai Museum. However, with the deep concern of Premier Zhou Enlai, scientists unveiled this thousand-year-old secret in 1975. There is no doubt that the replica of the "Transparent Mirror" is a very precious treasure of science and art.

Artifact Date:

Artifact Era/Dynasty:

Creator:

Unknown

Creator Ancestory:

Chinese

Catalogue Entry

Online References:

Department:

The Museum Proper

On Display, In Storage, or in a Private Offsite Collection:

On Display

Replica or Original:

Bronze mirror that reflects its patterns

Listen

00:00 / 01:04

Classification/Category:

Communication Objects

Specific Classification:

Notable Signatures,

Inscriptions, and/or Markings:

Primary Material:

Medium:

Dimensions:

Donated by:

Unknown

Accession Number:

Transparent Bronze Mirror

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