The Psychology of Materialized Power: An Analysis of the Evolution and Function of Eastern Zhou Dynasty Leather Armor—From the Perspective of Ritualized Techniques for Social Identity and Hierarchical Maintenance

Eastern Zhou leather armor functioned not only as protective gear but also as a materialized symbol of power and identity. This study employs the "Psychology of Materialized Power" as a theoretical framework to systematically examine the evolution of pre-Qin armor. Based on key archaeological discoveries such as Tomb No. 1 at Caomenwan and the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, the research reveals a "dual-driver" mechanism behind armor evolution: first, technological optimization driven by battlefield survival needs; second, armor's role as a "ritualized technology" used by the power elite to construct social identity and reinforce hierarchical order. Differentiations in form, decoration, and materials constituted ritualized practices, with core psychological functions including legitimizing authority through costly signaling, materializing hierarchy to reduce cognitive load and induce obedience, and strengthening in-group cohesion and out-group differentiation through visual identity. The transformation from the simplicity of the Spring and Autumn period to the complexity of the Warring States period reflects how the power elite meticulously manipulated the material attributes of armor to encode and materialize idealized social orders through socio-psychological practices. Consequently, the function of armor expanded from practical protection to ritual and ceremonial domains, forming a continuum from "utilitarian object" to "ritualized symbol of power," thereby becoming a critical medium for elites to consolidate their political legitimacy.