The National Palace Museum Open Data Platform

"Mingxin" Bronze Mirror Decorated with Four Mythical Animals, Sui to early Tang period, 7th century

• Image Number: K1A002002N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Sui dynasty
• Category: Bronzes
• Function: 生活用器
• Material: 礦物/金屬/青銅
• Description:
  圓形鏡，半球鈕，圓鈕座，外環半圓形花瓣紋。座外有雙線方欄，四角內各有一十字星紋。方欄外四個雙線V 形紋將主紋飾區分為四小區，各填一雲氣環繞的瑞獸，體態精實，顧盼生姿。高起的弦紋外為楷書五言韻體銘文：「賞得秦王鏡，判不惜千金。非關欲照膽，特是自明心。」描述秦始皇以神鏡照人肝膽，以明其心的傳說。此鏡紋飾佈局頗有漢代博局鏡遺風，相似的例子曾出土於西安郭家灘隋墓及河南新鄉北站。