Wednesday, 08 July 2009

• Ancient Chinese Technology

  
  This is basically a cooler from 475BC-221BC.
  It's an ice chest used during ceremonies and when important guests visit.  There are hooks at the base of the legs that stabilizes the structure.  There is also a hook that locks the lid in place as it clamps down at the opening.  If pouring wine from the ice chest, the lid does not need to be opened, there is a separate small outlet for releasing the wine.  During summer it could hold ice inside to keep the food cool, and during winter it has a compartment to put charcoals in to keep the food hot.  It's the earliest "fridge" as well as oven.
  
  So...that's what the description says.  I am really surprised people used ice back in 475BC.  It's a good thing to know because if I accidentally get transported back in time and stuck in that era I'll know there are chilled food and drinks.
  
  I am hoping they'd start digging up ancient laptops and evidences of Internet soon.
  
  
  　　戰國（公元前475—前221年）
  　　高63.2、口徑63厘米
  　　1978年湖北隨縣曾侯乙墓出土
  　　湖北省博物館藏
  
  　　此冰鑒為重要祭典或宴請重要賓客時使用。銅冰鑒為方鑒內套方形尊缶，方鑒底部安有彎形栓鉤，正好插入缶足穿眼，把缶穩住。其中一隻栓鉤還裝有倒鉤，栓鉤插入后，倒鉤即自動倒下卡緊，使缶不能搖動。灌酒挹（yì）酒不需打開鑒蓋，隻用打開缶蓋，設計巧妙。方鑒四面和四角各有一條攀附狀的龍作耳，龍尾部又有小龍纏繞，並附有兩朵小花點綴其上，狀貌十分俏麗，鑄作精細，是失蠟法鑄造的較早的典范作品。蓋內銘刻“曾侯乙作持用終”。方鑒與方尊缶之間有較大的空隙，夏季可置冰塊於其中冰冷食物，冬季則可置木炭以溫燙食物。既是最早的“冰箱”，也是最早的“烤箱”。《楚辭·招魂》：“挫糟凍飲，酎（zhòu）清涼些。”冰鑒旁邊有漏酒的漏斗，即是去糟的設備。
  
  
  
  

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