The bronze“dading currency”mirror with human and gourd decoration of the Jin Dynasty has a round button at the center. There is a dading currency coin pattern on both the right and left sides of the button, and a gourd pattern both above and below the button. A scholar wearing a men’s headscarf and sitting cross-legged is carved into both gourd patterns.

Dading currency was cast in the 18th year of Dading (1178), during the reign of Emperor Shizong of Jin. Consequently, the bronze mirrors cast with this coin pattern are supposed to be dated later than the 18th year of Dading.

Bronze mirrors of the Jin Dynasty are known for their stately and impressive appearance.

The motif patterns are rich and diverse. They fuse the essence of the Central Plains culture and traditional national culture. They are not dwarfed by the bronze mirrors from the Central Plains of China.

Whether they depict a pair of fish, a pair of dragons, branches, figures, mountains, rocks, or trees, mirrors of the Jin Dynasty feature bold strokes of paint. The bold and unconstrained pattern and style of Jin is refreshing, given that people at the time were used to the delicate and slender mirrors of the Song Dynasty.

The mirrors of the Jin Dynasty collected at Liaoning Provincial Museum include mirrors decorated with a pair of fish, mirrors with fish and dragon patterns, mirrors with dragon patterns, mirrors decorated with figures and stories, mirrors decorated with branch-climbing boy figures.

One important feature of mirrors of the Jin Dynasty is the carving of government inspection records and seals on the edges. These special marks recognize the period when the bronze mirrors were popular and the area where the bronze mirrors were used.

Dading currency refers to the reign of the fifth Jin emperor, Wanyan Yong, also known as Emperor Shizong. He enthroned at the present-day Liaoyang City. Undoubtedly, Liaoning Province witnessed the significant historical events of Jin emperor’s enthronements.

Peace between the south and the north was maintained for over 40 years after Emperor Shizong of Jin ascended the throne. Diligent in state affairs and frugal, he appointed officials based on their merit and ability, reduced taxes, stressed agriculture, and respected Confucianism. During his reign, the exchequer was full and society was stable, which reflected the realization of the “Prosperity of Dading”.    

This bronze “dading currency”mirror with human and gourd decoration epitomizes this prosperous period of the Jin Dynasty.