Mirror with Mythical Creatures and Immortals

MIRROR WITH MYTHICAL CREATURES AND IMMORTALS

Chinese mirror. Probably 3rd or 4th Century B.C.
inventory number: XLIX:I:E.33.

With a thick, round knob in the center, this extremely well-cast mirror shows images of people, perhaps celestial beings, interacting with various types of fantastic creatures. The register outside of this main scene contains half round, roof end, tile-like designs, interspersed between a seal-like inscription with four characters that translate as “Heaven, king, sun, moon.” This could be referring to complimentary, polarized forces of the ruler in the heavens, the earthly ruler (king), the sun and the moon. A narrow register beyond this section contains winged immortals, flying and interacting with mythical birds, dragons and other beasts. The final register on the edge contains abstract cloud patterns, giving the entire mirror a mythical, heavenly context.