Ancient metal drums of Southeast Asia

Author: (Austrian) Franz Heger, translated by Shi Zhongjian et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The bronze drum originated around 7th century BC and has been passed down to the present day, distributed across 8 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) in China, including Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing, and Sichuan, as well as all other countries in Southeast Asia except the Philippines. The study of bronze drums plays an irreplaceable role in researching the ethnic history and culture of southern China and Southeast Asia, and is also of indispensable significance for exploring the early concepts of human civilization. The Ancient Metal Drums of Southeast Asia is a groundbreaking masterpiece published in German by the Austrian Franz Heger in 1902 in Leipzig. It is a comprehensive compilation of Western scholars' research on bronze drums in the early 20th century. This book classifies 165 precious bronze drums into 4 main types and 3 transitional types based on their shapes and the evolution of their patterns, and describes their weights, sizes, and designs. It is particularly noteworthy that the book conducts an extremely detailed and pioneering study of the patterns on each drum, making it an indispensable reference for the study of iconography. The book also explores the distribution areas, casting dates, and cultural reflections of these 165 bronze drums, making it a valuable resource for numerous disciplines such as anthropology, mythology, ethnology, and the history of metallurgical casting.