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Chinese Fine Arts Theo Tran Shirlyn Hong Taylor Bodnar Teal Mingledorff

Chinese fine art

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Page 1: Chinese fine art

Chinese Fine Arts

Theo TranShirlyn Hong

Taylor BodnarTeal Mingledorff

Page 2: Chinese fine art

Dragon Dance

Originated during the Han dynasty

Started by the Chinese who showed great belief and respect towards the dragon

Began as a farming and harvest culture

Page 3: Chinese fine art

The Dragon

Long, serpent shaped body on poles

Hoops that distinguish each section of the body

Traditionally, constructed from wood, and bamboo hoops

Modern era, constructed from aluminum and plastics

Usually 25-35m in length; 50-70m for larger ceremonies

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Movement

Coordinated wave-like movements

The dragon’s movement shows power and dignity

The pearl represents the sun and wisdom

Dragon chases for the pearl

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Use of Color Green: Great harvest

Yellow: Solemn empire

Silver: Prosperity

Red: Excitement

The scales and the tail are usually silver and glittering

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Different FormsCloth Dragon

o Fire Dragon

o Grass Dragon

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Beijing (Peking) Opera

Originated in the late 18th century

Has a history of over 200 yearsBecame fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th centuryMain melodies originated from Anhui and Hubei

A combination of music, dance, art and acrobatics

Most influential and representative form of all styles of opera in China

Page 8: Chinese fine art

Beijing (Peking) OperaOften performed on open-air stages

Ex. markets, streets, teahouses, temple courtyardsShrill, piercing-style of singing developed to be heard over the crowds

Orchestra had to play loudly

Facial painting patternOver 1,000 facial patterns are usedUnique makeup allows characters to reveal themselves voicelessly

Symbolism

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4 Types of PerformersSheng (生 )

Main role

Male role

Dan (旦 )Any female role in the

Beijing Opera

Jing (淨 )Painted face male role

Usually plays the secondary role

Chou (丑 )Considered a minor role

Kind of like a clown

Page 10: Chinese fine art

Use of Color in the Beijing Opera

One of the most unique aspects of the Beijing Opera

Reflects a character’s personality or a quality they possess

Nobility vs. Common folkGood vs. EvilLoyalty vs. Treachery

Colors: Red Loyalty, uprightness, braveryWhite Treachery, suspicious, trickeryGreen Stubbornness, lack of self-restraintBlack Serious/taciturn disposition, strength, roughnessPurple Solemnity, serenity, sense of justiceYellow Intelligence, calculation/bravery (warrior) Blue Uprightness, stubbornnessGold/Silver Used on faces of immortals, demons, monsters

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Use of Color in the Beijing Opera

Costumes - very elaborate embroidery, brightly colored

Colors can indicate social statusYellow Imperial family

Red High nobility

Red/Blue Upright men

White Old officials

Blue Students

AccessoriesPadded armor General

Dragon robe Emperor

Jewelry girdles/hair ornaments

Page 12: Chinese fine art

Chinese Woodblock Printing: History

o Wood block roots in stone rubbing and wooden stamps

o Technological advancement with paper in 105 AD

o Oldest print from Han Dynasty (220 AD) – 3 color

print on silk

o Grew into common use in Tang Dynasty for

Buddhist texts and images and calendars and

playing cards

o Five Dynasties period (907-960 AD) – imperial court

ordered mass production of Confucian classics for

imperial exams

o Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) – more specialized

craftsmen, high print quality, court ordered Chinese

classics, book binding

o Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) – multiple color

printing

o 20th century – western influence, artists,

propaganda

Page 13: Chinese fine art

Chinese Woodblock Printing: History

o Diamond Sutra of 868 AD – printed in black and red in 1341

o Buddhist canon, Tripitaka, 130000 pages in 972-983

AD

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Chinese Woodblock Printing: Techniqueo Woodblock printing is based on engraving

and stamping

o Engraving in China:o Painted pottery culture (5000 BC to 1000 BC)o Inscriptions on bones, tortoise shells, bronze or

stone (1600 BC to Han Dynasty)

o Common method for printing:o Areas intended to be blank on print are cut away

from blocko Remaining raised areas receive ink and

create image to be printedo Paper or silk is laid on top of wood blocko Multiple blocks with different engravings are used to create prints with multiple colors

o Printing technique proved to be more suitable for Chinese characters than European moveable type printing method

Page 15: Chinese fine art

Chinese Woodblock Printing: Application

o Artistic prints from the Ten Bamboo Studio Collection from 1622-1627 by Hu Cheng Yen for the imperial court – invented color gradation

Page 16: Chinese fine art

Chinese Woodblock Printing: Applicationo Propaganda inspired by Lu Xun’s Woodcut

Movement in 1930so Li Hua’s Roar! China (1936) and Mao Leading Us

Going Forward (1960s) by a revolution committee

Page 17: Chinese fine art

Fifth Generation Chinese Cinema

Who are China’s “Fifth Generation” directors?Filmmakers who graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1982Image-based narratives with limited dialogueSymbolic use of color and empty space Unified image and ideology

Modern Chinese Adoption of Technicolor Three-strip color processDye transfer techniqueEquipment from old Hollywood Technicolor factory sold to ChinaExtremely saturated hues Beijing Film and Video Lab discontinued use in 1993

Page 18: Chinese fine art

Red Sorghum (1988) By: Yimou Zhang

Xi’an Studio equivalent of “Gone With the Wind”

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Ju Dou (1990) By: Fengliang Yang & Yimou Zhang

Saturated red hues & pale skin tones similar to “Wizard of Oz”

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Colors as Cultural Symbols

Red happiness, joy

Yellow high status, freedom from worldly cares

Green vitality, harmony

White purity, mourning

Black times of the unknown

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Alternative Uses of Space & Color

Empty space

Silhouette

Shadow-play

Page 23: Chinese fine art

Q & A