The origin of Chinese lock culture

Locks have been playing an important role in people's life since they were invented. Locks are not only human daily necessities, but also cultural (folk) objects. They represent the culture of a country and nation in different historical periods. China's locks have lasted for thousands of years, and they were born almost at the same time as human private ownership. At first, humans simply wrapped their personal valuables in animal skins, tied them firmly with ropes, and finally tied them with special knots at the opening. This tightly tied knot can only be removed with a tool called "wrong". Wrong, also known as "Xiao", "Dao" and "screwdriver". It is made of animal teeth or bones and looks like a sickle shaped hook. In fact, the knot is the earliest lock, "wrong" is the earliest key, which is the prototype of China's lock. This kind of jade was used from Shang Dynasty to Han Dynasty, and then changed to jade system, which evolved into accessories on noble clothes. In the period of Yangshao culture 5000 years ago, our ancestors created wooden locks installed on wooden frame buildings (see Encyclopedia of China · volume of light industry). 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 inherited among the people. For example, the white wooden lock in the Ming Dynasty was once used in buildings in Zhejiang. There are similar wooden locks in today's Yi village in Kunming. Although the Yin and Shang dynasties had entered the bronze age, copper was mainly used to make large drinking vessels, eating vessels and sacrificial vessels, but it was not used to make locks. Its development period is from the spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, through the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui, Tang, song and Yuan Dynasties. Following the Bronze Age of yin and Shang Dynasties, the spring and Autumn Period entered the iron age. Archaeology has proved that during this period, a large number of people used iron locks, copper locks, silver locks and gilded locks, among which the representative ones, such as bronze locks in the Western Zhou Dynasty, metal locks in the Eastern Han Dynasty, shrimp tail silver locks in the Tang Dynasty and square body locks in the Song Dynasty, have a very high technical level. In particular, the iron three spring lock of the Han Dynasty has been used for more than 1000 years in China. Its prosperous period was the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Locks made of various materials developed synchronously, mostly copper locks and iron locks. The process was more exquisite, and there were great innovations in unlocking difficulty and shape manufacturing. For example, the three color copper lock in the Ming Dynasty, the white crane lock in the Qing Dynasty, password lock, secret door lock, four lock, reverse pull lock and various locks in the shape of characters, animals and characters are dazzling and beautiful. Some locks have complex structure, ingenious design and peculiar mechanism, which are difficult for ordinary people to open.

China's ancient locks not only have a long history, many kinds and exquisite manufacture, but also have rich cultural connotation. Compared with modern locks, there are at least three characteristics: -- Chinese traditional locks have a long history, with a history of at least 5000 years, many kinds, rich reserves and profound cultural heritage; The development time of modern locks in China is only more than 100 years since the first use of American "Yale" marble lock by China general commercial bank in 1887.

——Chinese traditional locks are made by handicrafts, which gives full play to the creativity of the craft. Artists of all ages have made continuous innovations in technology, exquisite technology and rich styles. From my collection of hundreds of locks and pictures used by various nationalities, the materials are divided into wood locks, gold locks, silver locks, copper locks, iron locks, cloisonne locks, etc; By category, there are wide lock, Citi lock, criminal lock, jewelry lock, etc; According to the form, there are circular lock, square lock, pillow lock, text lock, character lock, animal lock, password lock, secret door lock, inverted lock, barrel lock, straight lock, horizontal lock, etc; According to the purpose, there are padlocks, door locks, box locks, cabinet locks, box locks, drawer locks, warehouse locks, etc; In terms of technology, there are flat carving, through carving, hollow carving, flower carving, gilding, gold inlay, gold wrapping, gold plating, inlay and mold casting. These locks are not only articles for people to use, but also have high artistic value for people to appreciate and collect.



Locks (tongue lock, blade lock, computer lock, marble lock, car lock, etc.) are not only human daily necessities, but also cultural (folk) objects. It represents the culture of a country and nation in different historical periods.

China's locks have lasted for thousands of years, and they were born almost at the same time as human private ownership.

At first, humans simply wrapped their personal valuables in animal skins, tied them firmly with ropes, and finally tied them with special knots at the opening. This tightly tied knot can only be removed with a tool called "wrong". Wrong, also known as "Xiao", "Dao" and "screwdriver". It is made of animal teeth or bones and looks like a sickle shaped hook. In fact, the knot is the earliest lock, "wrong" is the earliest key, which is the prototype of China's lock. This kind of jade was used from Shang Dynasty to Han Dynasty, and then changed to jade system, which evolved into accessories on noble clothes.

In the period of Yangshao culture 5000 years ago, our ancestors created wooden locks installed on wooden frame buildings (see Encyclopedia of China · volume of light industry). 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 inherited among the people. For example, the white wooden lock in the Ming Dynasty was once used in buildings in Zhejiang. There are similar wooden locks in today's Yi village in Kunming.

Although the Yin and Shang dynasties had entered the bronze age, copper was mainly used to make large drinking vessels, eating vessels and sacrificial vessels, but it was not used to make locks.

Its development period is from the spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, through the Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui, Tang, song and Yuan Dynasties. Following the Bronze Age of yin and Shang Dynasties, the spring and Autumn Period entered the iron age. Archaeology has proved that during this period, a large number of people used iron locks, copper locks, silver locks and gilded locks, among which the representative ones, such as bronze locks in the Western Zhou Dynasty, metal locks in the Eastern Han Dynasty, shrimp tail silver locks in the Tang Dynasty and square body locks in the Song Dynasty, have a very high technical level.

In particular, the iron three spring lock of the Han Dynasty has been used for more than 1000 years in China. Its prosperous period was the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Locks made of various materials developed synchronously, mostly copper locks and iron locks. The process was more exquisite, and there were great innovations in unlocking difficulty and shape manufacturing. For example, the three color copper lock in the Ming Dynasty, the white crane lock in the Qing Dynasty, password lock, secret door lock, four lock, reverse pull lock and various locks in the shape of characters, animals and characters are dazzling and beautiful. Some locks have complex structure, ingenious design and peculiar mechanism, which are difficult for ordinary people to open.

China's ancient locks not only have a long history, many kinds and exquisite manufacture, but also have rich cultural connotation.