Survey of Chinese Culture

Oracle Bone Xia Dynasty

Record HistoryPredict Future

Write on the bonesPlaced over a fire Bones would crack Priest would interpret the meaning

Jia (tripod wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 12th C BCE

Some of the most exquisite bronze vessels in the worldTechnologically far superior to anything else we’ve seen

Bronze zun(Bear swallowing monster) Shang Dynasty 11th C BCE

Bronze bell Zhou Dynasty 5th C BCE

Jade Disk Zhou Dynasty

JadeHighly prizedSymbol of longevityFrequently used as jewelry Used in ritualsOften buried with high status individualsBurial suits were common in Zhou and Han times.

Jade pendant Zhou Dynasty

Architecture

The Great WallHuangdi’s Tomb

Hi. I’m Robocop. Let me teach you about some Qin

architecture.

Huangdi’s Tomb

Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

Faces of a Qin Warriors

The Great Wall

The Art of Landscape Painting

“Wordless poems”“Economy of line”Harmony between heaven and earth (Daoism)Subject matter is nature or everyday life

Old Trees, Level Distance Northern Song dynasty (960–1127)Guo Xi (Chinese, ca. 1000–ca. 1090)Handscroll; ink and color on silk; 13 3/4 x 41 1/4 in. (34.9 x 104.8 cm)

Artist: Wang Ximeng (1096-1119)Title: A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains Medium/Format: Handscroll, ink and color on silk Dimensions: 469 x 22 in.

Scholar by a Waterfall, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) Ma Yuan (Chinese, active ca. 1190—1225)Album leaf: ink and color on silk; 9 7/8 x 10 1/4 in. (25.1 x 26 cm)Signed: "Servitor, Ma Yuan"

Ming Vases

Ming Vases

Sold for $5.7 million in 2000Porcelain was perfected under the Ming

Cantonese Opera

“Ngoh Wai Heng Kong”I’m Mad About YouImprovisationMusic reflects the tone of the languageConfucian principle of educating citizens in music, dance & drama

Forbidden City

Forbidden City