Kinbun 金文 or “metal style” had a more decorative than practical purpose and we can find it carved on bronze vessels, bells, cauldrons and other metal instruments of that time. Its origin dates back to the beginning of the Bronze Age in China or Xia dynasty 夏朝 (2070 to 1600 BC) existing simultaneously with the Koukotsubun style. At that time, metal was a very precious and valued material so many artifacts made of this material had the names of their owners inscribed on them, something that denoted the power or status of whoever owned them. Later these characters began to be used for religious purposes. Extremely attractive for its ornamental character, it has a variety of thicknesses, soft curves and infinite lines. It underwent changes in its morphology, going from pictograms that very clearly depicted the animals or everyday items with which they lived, to being synthesized in more abstract characters. Text written by Elena Hikari