Transcript Art of China ppt

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China= only continuing civilization from
ancient world.
Cut off by mountains, deserts and oceans from
other centers of human evolution, China developed
its own self-contained but highly advanced
civilization, which featured an astonishing
combination of progressive technology, ancient art,
and cultural awareness.
The original center of Chinese culture was along the
great Yellow River which crosses the North China
Plain, where stable settlements have dated back to at
least 4000 BCE.
China
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China= only continuing
civilization from ancient
world.
Settled village life, c. 6,000
BCE
Ceramics, bronze casting,
jade, silk scrolls
Daoism and Confucianism
Buddhism
Early Shang Dyn bronzes
Pagodas, Forbidden City
Painting, silk, paper scrolls
Literati class
Role of calligraphy
Porcelain
Qin dyn Terracotta army
Neolithic
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7-2
Guang vessel
Bronze, c.1100 BCE
Shang Dynasty, 6.5”
Ancestors, funerary
Libations, blessings
Fang ding, c.1500 BCE
used for storing food and wine for social and religious
ceremonial functions.
 The emphasis on animal motifs,
which is typical of the intricate
ornamental design found in Shang
bronze artifacts, suggests the importance
of hunting Shang culture.
 In addition to being buried in graves,
bronzes were now also used to
honor the living, as inscriptions
carved in their bases
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Fang Ding
Ceremonial Vessel
Zhou Dynasty
c. 900 BCE
Bronze casting
Storage Jar
c.2500 BCE
Neolithic
Yangshao
culture
14” h.
JADE
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Jade
Extremely hard, difficult
Metaphor strength
Art and ritual
Magical qualities
Shaped with abrasion
JADE
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Bi Disk with Dragons
c. 300 BCE
Jade had special properties
Dragons= good luck
Might be related to weather
Delicate, fine craftsmanship
Shaped with abrasion
JADE= magical powers
Protected the dead
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Bi disk with Dragons
Chinese Sculpture
THE TANG DYNASTY (618-907 CE)
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Access to India, Middle East through the Silk Road results in Buddhist
influence
Sculpture reaches zenith; time of prosperity and technological sophistication
Glazed earthenware
Horses= power of emperor
TRI-COLORED POTTERY
7-17
Taoism
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Tao = “path” or “way”
Taoism emphasizes the Three Jewels of the Tao:
compassion, moderation, and humility.
Taoist thought generally focuses on nature, the
relationship between humanity and the cosmos.
Harmony with the Universe
Balance between opposing forces (yin-yang)
Dao, like water, least resistance,
yielding but keeping strong
Confucianism
•Developed from the teachings of the
philosopher Confucius
•The cultivation of virtue and the
development of moral perfection
•Golden Rule: "do not do unto others
what you would not have them do unto
you."
Confucianism (Cont.)
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Social harmony
"Filial piety“ is among one of the greatest
virtues. “Filial” characterizes the respect that a
child should show to his/her parents.
Loyalty was considered one of the greater
human virtues. Loyalty to one's family came
first, then to one's spouse, then to one's ruler,
and lastly to one's friends.
Calligraphy
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In ancient China just like painting, Calligraphy was one of the
most appreciated works of art.
Amateurs, school officials, and aristocrats had the leisure to
perfect the technique and sensibility necessary for great
brushwork.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
The equipment for painting
Calligraphy are a brush pen, made
are needed to see this picture.
of animal hair, and black inks, made from pine soot and animal
glue.
Writing and painting was originally done on silk, but with the
invention of paper in the 1st century, silk was quickly replaced.
Wang Xizhi was a renowned Chinese Calligrapher in the 4th
century AD. His most famous work of art is the Lanting Xu,
which is the preface for a collection of poems written by
numerous poets.
Handscroll
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Long, narrow scroll to be read horizontally. Can be read on
table for a long narrative.
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Also used in Japan and Korea. Made of silk.
Hanging scrolls
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Displays Chinese painting and calligraphy for public appreciation
and appraisal of the aesthetics of the scrolls in its entirety by the
audience. Made of silk.
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7- 10 - Gu Kaizhi, Lady Feng, Handscroll, ink on silk, c.400
Act of heroism save emperor-Noble, Confucian behavior
Animated, plain background
Individualized expressions, Role of calligraphy, right to left
Xie He’s 6 Canons
Daoism
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Dao, Laozi, c. 600 BCE
Daodejing=
The Way and Its Power
Dao, like water, least resistance,
yielding but keeping strong
Yin- Yang
Fundamental natural
of the universe
Fan K'uan (c.1000)
Travelers Amid Streams
and Mountains
Hanging scroll
Ink and color on silk
81 1/4 x 40 3/4 in
Sung Dynasty
Emperor Huizong, Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk
Northern Song, c.1100, 15x58”
Scroll depicts three groups of ladies working on newly woven silk,
sewing and ironing silk. Two young maids assist ladies by keeping charcoal
hot and silk stretched; a little girl amuses herself by horsing around.
Gongcan (palace sericulture) was a symbolic imperial duty performed
every spring by the empress. In this ritual, she would lead palace ladies in
all stages of silk production, from raising the silkworms to making
dresses from the newly woven material.
7-23 Ma Yuan, Mountain Stroll in Spring,
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Southern Song
Brushed by his sleeves, wild flowers dance in the wind,
Fleeing from him, hidden birds cut short their songs . . .
Literati painting
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Educated class
Independent
Individualized
“Southern School”
Not as formal as Northern
A little “looser” style
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26-10 Shen Zhou, Lofty Mount Lu
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1467, hanging scroll
Chinese Architecture
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architecture was built according to severe rules of design which
made Chinese buildings follow the way of Taoism as well as other Chinese
philosophies
Earlier than the Shang Dynasty, around the time of 1500 BC, Chinese
buildings looked very similar to Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City
(Beijing, 1450 AD). Long pillars and curved roofs were distinguishable.
Palaces of Qin Dynasty and Chou Dynasty, continued in this style
26-5 Hall of Supreme Harmony,
Forbidden City (Beijing, 1450 AD)
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Raised beam construction
Chinese Architecture
The
architecture was built according to severe rules of design
which made Chinese buildings follow the way of Taoism as well
as other Chinese philosophies
Around 1500 BCE, Chinese buildings looked very similar to Hall
of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City (Beijing, 1450 AD). Long
pillars and curved roofs were distinguishable.
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Hall of Supreme
Harmony, Forbidden
City (Beijing, 1450 AD)
26-5 Aerial view of the Forbidden City, Beijing, China, Ming
dynasty, 15th century and later.
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A. Meridian Gate
B. Gate of Divine Might
C. West Glorious Gate
D. East Glorious Gate
E. Corner towers
F. Gate of Supreme Harmony
G. Hall of Supreme Harmony
H. Hall of Military Eminence
J. Hall of Literary Glory
K. Southern Three Places
L. Palace of Heavenly Purity
M. Imperial garden
N. Hall of Mental Cultivation
O. Palace of Tranquil Longevity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEJhfxyc8lI
Great Wall
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Especially famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC
by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
This is made up of 6,259 km (3,889 mi) sections of
actual wall, This is made up of 6,259 km (3,889 mi)
sections of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches
and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers
such as hills and rivers.[5] 359 km (223 mi) of trenches
and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers
such as hills and rivers.[5]
Great Wall, c.200 BCEQin Dynasty
7-21 Foguang Si Pagoda,
Yingxian, China, Liao
Dynasty, 1056.
Buddhist tower
housed relics, like stupa
sacred images, texts
Also common in Japan
Han House
Model
c.220
Chinese Sculpture
Terracotta Army
• Carved during the short-lived Qin Dynasty
• in Mausoleum of First Qin Emperor Qin Shi Huang
• buried in 210-209 BC
• 7,000 terracotta figures of horses and warriors
• had paint when unearthed in 1974; pigment has since faded; each
head is unique.
Figure 7-5
Army of the
First Emperor of Qin in pits
next to his burial mound,
Lintong, China, Qin
dynasty, ca. 210 BCE.
Painted terracotta,
average figure 5’ 10 7/8”
high.
7-9 Shakyamuni
Buddha, Zhao Dynasty,
Period of Disunity, 338. Gilded
bronze, 1’ 4” h.
Earliest Chinese Buddha
resembles Gandhara style
notice hand position 
Guan-Yin
c.12 century
Bodhisattva
Mercy
Compassion
Love
7-12 Vairocana Buddha,
Longmen Caves, Luoyang, China
ca. 670-680 C.E.
50 feet high
Buddha= 44’ carved mt
COSMIC BUDDHA
Supreme majesty, serenity
Perfect symmetry, smooth
Colossal
Flanked by monks, bodhisattvas