Commentary on Four-gods Dermatoglyphic Patterns ——Take Tang Dynasty Epitaph as an Example

Abstract

The decoration of four-gods is an important traditional auspicious pattern in ancient China, which is decorated on many utensils. Not only can we see the four-gods decoration on the stone, tile, murals and bronze mirrors, but also on the four sides of the epitaph and the four inclined brakes of the cover, we can see the exquisite four-gods decoration carved, of which the four-gods decoration on the epitaph of the Tang Dynasty is the most splendid. But why decorate the four-gods on ancient utensils? What are the four gods? What are the auspicious implications of the four-gods decoration? This article will take the four-gods decoration of Tang Dynasty epitaph as an example to analyze its hidden cultural significance.