Sea Beast Grape Mirror

　　Sea Beast and Grape Mirror. The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of ancient Chinese bronze mirror making. It not only inherited the cultural traditions of the Han and Wei dynasties but also absorbed the manufacturing techniques of border ethnic groups, resulting in more refined compositions. The Sea Beast and Grape Mirror is the most representative work of the Tang Dynasty and the last peak of ancient Chinese bronze mirror making. Bronze mirrors from this period were cast using high-tin bronze, with meticulous workmanship and superior materials. The sea beasts and grapes depicted on the Sea Beast and Grape Mirror are related to Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions. The sea beasts represent animal imagery from beyond the Western Regions. Grapes symbolize numerous children and blessings. During the Tang Dynasty, bronze mirrors were not commonly owned by ordinary families; users were mainly the aristocratic and official class, while ordinary people mostly used water as a mirror.