TITLE
“Historical Records” Born of Earth and Fire—Messages from the Ancestors of the Chinese Nation on “Qin and Han Ancient Bricks,” and Collector-Connoisseur Zhang Yanwei
AUTHOR(S)
Yin, J. Z.
ABSTRACT
This “Qin-Han grey brick”—originating from the ancient Central Plains along the Yellow River—bears images on its reverse side that go beyond the depictions of Fuxi and Nuwa (identified by collector and connoisseur Mr. Yanwei Zhang) found in the upper section. The designs in the middle and, particularly, the lower sections conceal significant information regarding the ancestral figures of Chinese mythology—specifically Pangu, the deity who wielded a giant axe to cleave heaven and earth and bring order to the cosmos. The serpentine motif situated between the upper figures (Nuwa and Fuxi) and the lower figure (Pangu) serves a dual purpose: it corroborates ancient legends describing Pangu as having a human body with a serpent’s head and depicting the intertwining bodies of Nuwa and Fuxi, while also illustrating the ancestral lineage connecting the elder Pangu below to the younger generation of Nuwa and Fuxi above—despite ongoing, unresolved debate regarding the precise generational gap between these two groups of figures. In addition to interpreting the profound symbolism of these patterns through scholarly references, this article introduces Mr. Yanwei Zhang. For over thirty years, he has devoted his time, money, and energy—with unwavering focus—to the collection, rubbing, and study of Qin and Han bricks and tiles in a corner of the Central Plains. He is a dedicated independent scholar who has poured his personal resources into this lifelong pursuit, as well as an artist, calligrapher, and bearer of the intangible cultural heritage of stone and brick rubbing techniques who has spent decades educating the youth and kids. We must also acknowledge the courage, sense of responsibility, and keen insight of the Nanjie School principal; in today’s materialistic society, she unhesitatingly provided a space for Mr. Zhang to house his extensive collection of Qin and Han bricks and tiles, thereby enabling the transmission of traditional Chinese culture to successive generations of young students.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.62252/NSS.2026.1042
PAGES: 763-776
How to cite this article
Yin, J.Z. 2026. “Historical records” born of earth and fire—messages from the ancestors of the Chinese nation on “Qin and Han ancient bricks,” and collector-connoisseur Yanwei Zhang. Naturalis Scientias, 3: 763-776. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62252/NSS.2026.1042. www.naturalisscientias.com.