THE ART OF CHINA

Lecture 3B: The Tomb of Emperor Qin

Art of the Han Dynasty

THE IMPERIAL PERIOD BEGINS…

• The Chinese empire established by Qin after a period of Civil War in 221 BCE.

• Absolute rule. Loyalty or death! Maintained power in part thru burning books, outlawing Confucian ideals of government, and expanding the Great Wall.

The Great Wall of China…is actually several walls. Today’s walls

are built on the original walls from Qin’s time.

THE TOMB OF QIN

• Discovered in the 1970’s by peasants.

• Took 38 years to create.

– 20 square miles

– 249 foot tall mound

• Underground city has army barracks with over 8000 terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots, bronzes, silk, jade, weapons. The soldier’s face east, ready to battle.

• In 2012 remains of a palace complex were discovered.

• The Emperor’s tomb has not yet been excavated.

• Myths surrounding the tomb say Qin is buried amongst rivers of mercury, a sky with pearl stars, and perhaps a pit of concubines.

THE HAN DYNASTY

• Western Han: 206 BCE-9 CE.

• Eastern Han: 25-220 CE.

• In 206 BCE a peasant was named emperor and the Han dynasty was established.

• Re-established Confucian and Daoist principles in China.

• Poetry, literature, the arts, and science flourished.

Female Dancer, Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–9 A.D.), 2nd century B.C.

THE BOSHAN LU INCENSE BURNER: CULT OF THE SACRED MOUNTAINS

• Daoists believe heaven and earth meet at the tops of mountains.

• Designed so the smoke would rise out of vessel and appear like clouds.

• Ash analysis reveals that thatch grass, magnolia, and cannabis were some of the substances burned.

Mountain-Shaped Incense Burner at the

Art Institute of Chicago.

Bronze incense burner inlaid with gold,

accidentally discovered in 1968 at Man

Ch'eng County, Hebei (Hopei) Province,

from the tomb of the Han prince,Liu

Sheng (died 113 B.C.).

“I value this perfect utensil, lofty

and steep as a mountain…It

contains rare perfumes, red flames

and green smoke; densely

ornamented are its side, and its

summit joins azure heaven. A

myraid animals are depicted on it.

Ah, from its sides I can see even

fruther than Li Lou (who had

legendary eyesight).

~ Liu Xiang, Han Dynasty scholar.

LADY DAI: CHINA’S SLEEPING BEAUTY

• Tomb excavated in the 1970s with help of local high school students.

• Mummy of Lady Dai well preserved in a multilayered coffin and silks so part of her po (soul) could stay with her body.

• Flying banner illustrates the re-emergence of Daoist belief.

Lady’s Dai’s Coffin’s as

uncovered (left) and

restored (below).

Lai Dai’s Flying Banner, Painted

silk from the tomb of Dai Hou Fu-

ren, ca. 168 BCE.

Lai Dai’s Flying Banner, Painted

silk from the tomb of Dai Hou Fu-

ren, ca. 168 BCE.

AFTER LECTURE 3B YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO…

• Explain the features of Emperor Qin’s rule and how

his ideas are reflected in his tomb.

• Identify how Daoist beliefs are made visible in the

arts of the Han, and the Boshan-Lu incense burners

and the grave goods of Lady Dai in particular.

• Discuss the iconography and form of Lady Dai’s Flying

Banner.