A Study of the Gourd-shaped Ladles(Paoshao)in the Lingnan Region During the Qin and Han Periods
Gourd-shaped ladles(paoshao)are primarily found in Han Dynasty tombs in the Lingnan re-gion,with the majority discovered in Guangzhou.These artifacts are categorized into three types based on material:bronze,pottery,and lacquered wood.Comparative studies suggest that the bronze ladles likely origi-nated from the Dong Son culture of Vietnam and were introduced to Lingnan through exchanges,gifts,or trade,subsequently influencing the local production of pottery and lacquered wood ladles.This indicates that objects containing elements of Dong Son culture began to integrate into Han customs from the mid-Western Han period.Furthermore,the functional and symbolic diversity of these ladles is evident from his-torical texts,ethnographic materials,and their archaeological contexts.Some ladles were used for nasal drinking or as scooping utensils;by the Eastern Han period,they were also employed in ceremonial contexts.
Gourd-shaped ladlesLingnan regionHan Dynastyfunction of objects
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