Locks (cam locks, leaf locks, computer locks, car locks, etc.) are not only human daily necessities, but also cultural (folk) objects, which represent the culture of a country and nation in different historical periods.
China's locks has a long history for thousands of years, and it was born almost at the same time with the human private ownership.
Early Development of Chinese Locks
At first, human beings simply wrapped personal valuables in animal skins. They bound them firmly with ropes outside and finally tied special knots at the opening place. This tight tied knots can only be lifted with a tool called " Qizi ". It is made of animal teeth or bones. The shape is like a sickle-shaped hook. In fact, the knot is the earliest lock. The " Qizi " is the earliest key. This is the prototype of China's locks. It was used from the Shang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty, and then it was changed to the one by jade. And then, it evolved into a kind of ornament on aristocratic clothes.
In the Yangshao culture period 5000 years ago, Chinese ancestors created wooden locks on wooden frame buildings. This is the oldest lock in the world, which can be called "the first lock in the world".
This kind of wooden lock has been passed down among the people. For example, the white wooden lock in the Ming Dynasty was used in the buildings in Zhejiang Province. There are similar wooden locks in today's mountain villages of Yi ethnic group in Kunming.
China's locks has a long history for thousands of years, and it was born almost at the same time with the human private ownership.
Early Development of Chinese Locks
At first, human beings simply wrapped personal valuables in animal skins. They bound them firmly with ropes outside and finally tied special knots at the opening place. This tight tied knots can only be lifted with a tool called " Qizi ". It is made of animal teeth or bones. The shape is like a sickle-shaped hook. In fact, the knot is the earliest lock. The " Qizi " is the earliest key. This is the prototype of China's locks. It was used from the Shang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty, and then it was changed to the one by jade. And then, it evolved into a kind of ornament on aristocratic clothes.
In the Yangshao culture period 5000 years ago, Chinese ancestors created wooden locks on wooden frame buildings. This is the oldest lock in the world, which can be called "the first lock in the world".
This kind of wooden lock has been passed down among the people. For example, the white wooden lock in the Ming Dynasty was used in the buildings in Zhejiang Province. There are similar wooden locks in today's mountain villages of Yi ethnic group in Kunming.
Although the Shang Dynasty has entered the Bronze Age, the copper was still mainly used to make large drinking utensils, food utensils and sacrificial vessels. Locks were not made by the bronze.
Evolution of Materials and Techniques
Its development period is from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, through the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Song and Yuan Dynasties. After the Bronze Age of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the Spring and Autumn Period entered the Iron Age. The archaeology has proved that people used iron locks, copper locks, silver locks, gilded gold locks, etc in this period. Many of them has achieved high technical levels, such as the bronze locks of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the metal locks of the Eastern Han Dynast and the square body locks of the Song Dynasty and so on.
Innovative Designs in Ming and Qing Dynasties
In particular, the locks with three three springs made of iron in the Han Dynasty have been used for more than one thousand years in China. Its prosperous period was the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The locks made of various materials developed synchronously. Most of them were copper locks and iron locks. The craft was more exquisite. There were great innovations in the difficulty of unlocking and the appearance manufacturing. For example, many of locks are very beautiful, such as the three-colored copper locks of the Ming Dynasty, the white crane locks of the Qing Dynasty, the code locks, the secret door locks, the inverted pull locks, as well as the locks of various characters, animals and characters, etc. Some locks are complex in structures, ingenious in the design and peculiar in mechanism, which are difficult for ordinary people to open them.
The history of China's ancient locks is long. And the kinds is also various and the craft is exquisite. Most importantly, it has rich cultural connotations.
Evolution of Materials and Techniques
Its development period is from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, through the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Song and Yuan Dynasties. After the Bronze Age of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the Spring and Autumn Period entered the Iron Age. The archaeology has proved that people used iron locks, copper locks, silver locks, gilded gold locks, etc in this period. Many of them has achieved high technical levels, such as the bronze locks of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the metal locks of the Eastern Han Dynast and the square body locks of the Song Dynasty and so on.
Innovative Designs in Ming and Qing Dynasties
In particular, the locks with three three springs made of iron in the Han Dynasty have been used for more than one thousand years in China. Its prosperous period was the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The locks made of various materials developed synchronously. Most of them were copper locks and iron locks. The craft was more exquisite. There were great innovations in the difficulty of unlocking and the appearance manufacturing. For example, many of locks are very beautiful, such as the three-colored copper locks of the Ming Dynasty, the white crane locks of the Qing Dynasty, the code locks, the secret door locks, the inverted pull locks, as well as the locks of various characters, animals and characters, etc. Some locks are complex in structures, ingenious in the design and peculiar in mechanism, which are difficult for ordinary people to open them.
The history of China's ancient locks is long. And the kinds is also various and the craft is exquisite. Most importantly, it has rich cultural connotations.
