What are the types of ancient locks? Counting past lock classification

Locks have long been an essential daily necessities. Nowadays, with the development of science and technology and the improvement of living standards, "Gusuo" has already withdrawn from the historical stage, but its collection value is gradually gaining market recognition, and many people have joined the ancient lock collection boom.

Locks have been developed in China for thousands of years. In ancient China, locks existed. The types of locks in ancient China were roughly divided into two types: reed structure locks and text combination locks. The reed structure lock can be divided into four types: wide lock, Citi lock, torture lock and jewelry lock, mostly horizontal locks for doors, cabinets and boxes.

Guangsuo: In the Qing Dynasty, Guangxu was prolific in Shaoxing, commonly known as "Shao Lock". The folks also called "cross-lock", "support spring lock" or "pillow lock". Most of them are copper, the front is concave, and the end face is a combination of triangle and rectangle. Before the Ming Dynasty, the wide locks were mostly copper, and the end faces were long cylindrical. The locks in the Ming and Qing Dynasties were mostly copper, with the upper part of the end face being triangular and the lower part being beveled. After the Qing Dynasty, most of its materials were brass, and there were also Yunnan white copper and iron. The upper part of the end face was the same as that of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the lower part was square. The iron-type lock is based on the wide-lock style before the Ming Dynasty. Its end is long cylindrical, with three hoops, five hoops, and car lights.

Citi lock: "Flower" refers to the pattern, "flag" has the meaning. "Citi Lock" is quite traditional and customary. It is generally refined with gold, silver, copper and iron materials, with the most copper. Mostly used in cabinets, boxes, drawers, etc., beautifully shaped, with the meaning of blessing.

Jewelry lock: decorative metal lock, mostly made of gold and silver materials. Use a chain of strings, hanging on the neck, like a wishful, heart, ingot, flowers and animals. The surface of the lock is engraved with delicate flowers and birds, as well as the words Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi, Longevity, and auspicious.

Torture lock: also known as the personal lock, used to lock the chain, the iron lock of the raft.

Text combination lock: in the shape of a horizontal cylinder, a number of runners of the same size are arranged in the axis, the same number of characters are etched on the surface of the runner, and the two ends of the cylinder are two upright columns, on the column Connect a lock beam. When the text on all the wheels is turned to a certain position and the text forms a specific string, the lock can be opened without using a key.

Knowing the history of locks, we can also know the wisdom of our people, and thus we can learn from them, carry out transformation on this basis, and continue to create China’s brilliant achievements in locking.

Now in the antiquities market in various places, there have also been stalls specializing in ancient locks. Traditional locks, especially copper locks, are favored by collectors, and prices have soared. I ask, who does not have a few keys and a few locks? From ancient times to the present, there is one thing that must not be forgotten, that is the key.

Editor in charge: Xu Yuehua