After greeting Zhong Dingsheng, Chu Chen took the bronze mirror in his hands and began examining it carefully.
This was a Boju mirror, also known as a Guiju mirror. In the development of Han mirrors, it had remained popular for the longest period, mainly during the middle period, from the late Western Han to the Wang Mang era.
These bronze mirrors generally used the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise as decorative motifs, which was why they were also called Guiju Four Gods Mirrors. During this period, the rims featured complex decorations, such as sawtooth patterns, rolling-cloud patterns, and scrolling-grass patterns.
The bronze mirror before him was exactly like that. It was round, with a round knob and a round knob seat. Outside the seat was a circle of double-string patterns, within which eight small round-seat "bosses" alternated with cloud motifs. Four small four-lobed-seat "bosses" and Boju patterns divided the main decorative area into four directions and eight sections.
Each section contained one of the Four Gods paired with auspicious beasts. The combinations included the Azure Dragon with a feathered immortal, the Vermilion Bird with an auspicious beast, the White Tiger with a unicorn, and a unicorn with a bear. The bear motif had both hands raised, its body bent sideways at the waist. It was vividly rendered and extremely rare.
The outer ring was decorated with an inscription: "Han's famous bronze comes from Dan-yang. The Azure Dragon on the left and White Tiger on the right ward off evil. The Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise harmonize yin and yang. Using it as a mirror brings literary refinement."
In addition, two circles of double-string patterns on the rim enclosed a ring of linked cloud motifs.
The decorations on this bronze mirror were finely and vividly rendered. The