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The Art of China
History of China beginsArchaeologists have discovered foundations
of their palaces and walled cities, and royal tombs that have had thousands of works in jade, lacquer, ivory, precious metals, and bronze.
Shang Dynasty
Valuable possession of elite families used as a vessel for wine
Shang decorative motifs, the stylized animal or monster face known as the taotie.
Communicating with the spirit world through animal go-betweens
Jia
Standing Buddha StatueBodhisattva- or “Buddha-to-be”Buddhism also recognized those who had
either postponed death or returned for comfort or guidance to the living.
Scroll PaintingThe earliest Chinese paintings that have
survived to the present2 kinds:Hanging scrollsHorizontal or hand scrolls
A long roll of illustrated parchment or silkMade for reflection and convenience
Scroll
Tang DynastyMost of the sculptures produced during this
time was for religious reasons (Buddhism)Ex. Saddle Horse- tomb sculpture
Tang HandscrollHorses were highly prized by the ChineseEx. Han Kan- quality of the brush line
Sung DynastyThe production of porcelain ware was
brought to new heights during this time.Porcelain- a fine-grained, high-quality form of
chinaKaolin- white clay that porcelain is made from
Sung Dynasty Sculpture Buddhism still had a major influence but is
more relaxed and natural in style
ScholarsScholars were the product of an examination
system designed to recruit the finest minds for government service.
4 scholar-painters of this time were known as the 4 Great masters of Yuan
Scholar painters were not supposed to sell their work but to give it to each other as a token of friendship or favor.
Their paintings almost always included an inscription and sometimes a poem.
The Rongxi
Landscape PaintingKuo Hsi- artist that wanted viewers to feel as
if they were really in the place pictured Ex. Clearing Autumn Skies over Mountains
and Valleys
Multiple Vanishing PointsVanishing point- point at which receding
parallel lines seem to convergeAs you unroll a scroll you may find that the
perspective shifts and it makes you feel like you are traveling through the work
Painted scenes of quiet contemplation of nature
Ch’ien Hsuan
Ming DynastyUse of stunning cobalt blue glaze was one of
the major accomplishments in the development of Chinese porcelain
Chinese paintings experienced a decline during this time
Chinese DragonThe mythological Chinese Dragon, dates back
5,000 years as a symbol of happiness, immortality, procreation, fertility and activity, and they are believed to ward off evil spirits
Yin and YangYin yang are complementary opposites within
a greater wholeTaoist philosophy generally discounts
good/bad distinctions as superficial labels, preferring to focus on the idea of balance
It is impossible to talk about yin or yang without some reference to the opposite, since yin and yang are bound together as parts of a mutual whole
Ex. A race with only men or women
