National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

end of the curve appears a modeled ibex-head, perforated at the under side.
The horns serve as decoration for about half the length. As far as we know,
the wide-plaque type is unknown at Minussinsk. In Siberia it is only found of
a later date, as for instance the example from the Altai (73) which should be dated
from the VIII century, and which therefore gives us important proof of the
long duration of the belt-clasps in this region.

China of the Chou period did not know this object. The Far East must have
received it through its association with the north. The reforms of King Wu Ling
and of his successors, of which we spoke in Chapter IV, were the cause of several
adoptions, military equipment as well as belt-clasps. The use of such clasps
has not always been known. Pelliot in contradiction to other theories believes
that they were placed horizontally to fasten the middle of the belt (74). There
is convincing proof of this explanation supplied by a bronze sculpture in the
Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (Pl. XVIII no. 3). This statue may be dated
Han at the latest. Ferguson has published it as Ch'in, which may be the case
(75). The figure wears a clasp in such a way that the shovel-shaped larger end is
at the right. A projection issuing from this large end enters the leather belt.
The hook distinctly fits a loop at the left. Excavations in Korea have supplied
examples of Chinese origin, but only approximately dated. However, neither
their discovery nor their ornamentation can permit the dating of any of these
objects earlier than the second half of the III century B.C.

In contrast to its rather infrequent use in the Steppes the belt-clasp is very
common in China and in countries influenced by the Celestial Empire. A col-
lection of types would fill a considerable volume, but up to now it has only been
attempted in a modest way (76). The Chinese borrowed the use and the original
form from the north, but they usually made of it something absolutely personal.
At first they used all materials suitable to the purpose, jade, bone, gold, silver,
bronze and iron, some inlayed, and others of combined materials. The actual
implement becomes at times a ceremonial article of exaggerated size. As well
as the practical purpose of such pieces there arises another use, that of the amulet
or funerary object, as Pelliot has already mentioned (77). Etruscan art, an oriental
phenomenon on European soil, was also familiar with immense fibulae never
meant to be worn (78). In the hereafter they probably stood for an idea of
validity. The Chinese first wore these clasps themselves, then later on made
them for exportation. Barbarians, always eager to exchange and receive gifts,
prized them especially. It is said of clasps decorated with good luck animals :
" The western Hu like to wear them " (79). Perhaps foreign demands stimulated
the invention of varied ornamental motives.

In spite of all the variety of shapes and decorations for clasps, the original
form of a hook, bar, and larger end, always remains. If we compare this form
with that of Minussinsk (Pl. XVIII nos. 1 & 2) we notice, as we have done