Art History 5

1. Art History 5 China

2. Timeline China Black area is China as compared to Europa, Egypt, Mesopotamia and India. Timeline by Jacob Voorthuis www.voorthuis.net

3. Map of Ancient China If you watch this from home, you can view a very good 3 minute video of the Great Wall of China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8332B5DN3Mk China If you have a special interest in China and want to know about the great dynasties, check out this website: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/timeline.html#ancient Image from UK teacher J. LaMonica teaching blog http://bootsontheground1918.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

4. Characteristics of Chinese Art • Calligraphy is a central artistic expression of Chinese art • Philosophy (Confucianism) and religion (Taoism, Buddhism) dominate all aspects of traditional Chinese art • Chinese paintings include handscrolls, hanging scrolls, fans and album leaves • Chinese architecture is based on a courtyard style • The monumental and grand are valued in Chinese art China Public Domain images

5. Chinese Calligraphy • East Asian calligraphy began in China using Chinese characters • Japan and Korea also consider calligraphy as a high art • Basically, the word calligraphy (Shu Fa) means “good writing” • It is estimated that Chinese characters were developed around 4,500 years ago and may have been scratched into stone with metal tools • Now, the tools at the top left are how the calligraphy is made. Rice paper is used to write on as well as silk and other materials. • Works of calligraphy are signed by the artist.. The master calligrapher China Above: Image by Yug. Creative Commons image Left: Yan Zhenqing from www.chinapage.com

6. Chinese Painting Traditional Chinese painting used the same techniques as calligraphy using a brush and ink Paintings were made on paper or silk and mounted on scrolls as well as on walls and in albums Many Chinese paintings show the teachings of the philosopher, Confucius Landscape painting came to be considered one of the highest forms of painting in China China Wall mural in Tang Dynasty tomb of Li Xian. Public domain image US public domain image

7. Chinese Architecture The architecture of China is also seen in Japan and Korea. The basic style has remained the same over the years since the Tang Dynasty and possibly for about 4,000 years. There is a horizontal emphasis in Chinese architecture, meaning that the width of the building or complex is stressed. There is also an emphasis on symmetry. (one side visually the same as the other) Buildings surrounded an enclosed yard or courtyard which typically faces the south. Hierarchical rules determined construction and use of buildings and building complexes. Concepts of Geomancy (feng shui and taoism) also played an important role in construction of buildings. (keeping evil away and etc) China The image above is in the public domain. It is a copy of a 1103 drawing by Yingzao Fashi which was later printed in a book

8. Chinese Architecture • Pagodas are some of the most striking of early Chinese architecture. • A pagoda is a tiered (progressively smaller layers) tower with multiple eaves (an eave is the edge of a roof) • Pagodas are common in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other areas of Asia • Few, if any, wooden pagodas survive earlier than the Tang Dynasty • By the Tang Dynasty, pagodas were made from more lasting materials such as brick and stone • It is said that the Chinese pagoda is a variation of the stupa from India. A stupa is a mound like structure which stored religious relics • For more information on pagodas, see this powerpoint China Image by Eric Conner free use image Wikipedia Commons. This pagoda was built around 1165 AD

9. Chinese Architecture • The Forbidden City is a complex of buildings that was the Imperial Palace in Beijing, China. It still exists and houses the Palace Museum • The Forbidden City housed the emperor and family but was also a political and cultural center. It is enclosed in a larger area called “The Imperial City.” • It is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the World. 980 buildings still survive. The wall surrounding the Forbidden City is 26 ft. high. • Part of the collection of art and artifacts originally housed in this complex is now housed in The National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan and has been since the Chinese Civil War • Construction began on the Forbidden City in 1406 • The design reflects philosophical and religious symbols China Traditional Ming Dynasty painting of the Forbidden City. Image is public domain. Image by Simm released to public domain

10. Chinese Sculpture • Chinese sculpture and carvings represent a huge collection and variety. Of just the artifacts housed in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, it would take 12 years on a 3 month rotation to display each piece with over 1,000 objects being displayed at a time. And that is just a fraction of the art that survives. • Chinese sculpture is known for its monumental, large scale sculpture, for miniatures carved in jade, and for an incredible variety in between. • Dragons are used frequently and represent good fortune China Photo by Louis le Grand released to GNU free documentation. Sculpture is from the Song Dynasty 960-1279 AD Jade dragon carving C. 200 BC to 4 AD. Image by snowyowls, Creative Commons release

11. Chinese Sculpture • In 1974 this funerary army was discovered in China by several farmers • The terra cotta army dates back to 210 BC • The self-declared first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang was buried with the army. • An entire necropolis for the emperor was uncovered by archaeologists • The craftsmen who created this were also buried inside, likely to prevent them from revealing information about the tomb • There are about 8,000 warriors, 100 chariots, 30,000 weapons in the tomb. Each warrior has unique features, none are exactly alike China Terra cotta army. Image GFDL by Gveret Tered Photo by Robin Chen, released to public domain

12. Chinese Folk Art • Chinese Folk Art includes a large variety of art forms, including paper cutting, paper folding, puppetry, embroidery, knots, lantern making, ceramics, opera and gardens or landscape art. • Each of these categories of art include subcategories China Chinese puppets from Chiayi, Taiwan – C. Dodds photo Shadow puppets Dr. Meierhofer photo GNU image Paper cutting Image from www.culture-china.com

13. Chinese Art • January 26, 2009 marks the Chinese New Year, year of the Ox • Chinese New Year is also called the Lunar New Year • Traditionally it begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the 15th day (full moon), which is Lantern Festival • Some of the traditions associated with this holiday are: the giving of a red envelope containing money to children, new clothing being worn, the house having been cleaned thoroughly before the holiday, a large dinner which includes sweets, dumplings and fish is served to the family and, of course, fireworks are ignited during the festivities. Although, different areas of China celebrate somewhat differently. • There is much religious and symbolic in this celebration with an emphasis on ancestors China Red envelopes image from http://www.rapides.k12.la.us/chapmanm/