The Art of China

1. The Art of China

2. Shang Dynasty • History of China begins • Archaeologists 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.

3. Jia • Valuable possession of elite familiesused 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

7. Standing Buddha Statue • Bodhisattva- or “Buddha-to-be” • Buddhism also recognized those who had either postponed death or returned for comfort or guidance to the living.

9. Scroll Painting • The earliest Chinese paintings that have survived to the present • 2 kinds: • Hanging scrolls • Horizontal or hand scrolls

10. Scroll • A long roll of illustrated parchment or silk • Made for reflection and convenience

14. Tang Dynasty • Most of the sculptures produced during this time was for religious reasons (Buddhism) • Ex. Saddle Horse- tomb sculpture

17. Tang Handscroll • Horses were highly prized by the Chinese • Ex. Han Kan- quality of the brush line

19. Sung Dynasty • The production of porcelain ware was brought to new heights during this time. • Porcelain- a fine-grained, high-quality form of china • Kaolin- white clay that porcelain is made from

23. Sung Dynasty Sculpture • Buddhism still had a major influence but is more relaxed and natural in style

27. Scholars • Scholars 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.

28. The Rongxi

30. Landscape Painting • KuoHsi- artist that wanted viewers to feel as if they were really in the place pictured • Ex. Clearing Autumn Skies over Mountains and Valleys

32. Multiple Vanishing Points • Vanishing point- point at which receding parallel lines seem to converge • As you unroll a scroll you may find that the perspective shifts and it makes you feel like you are traveling through the work

33. Ch’ienHsuan • Painted scenes of quiet contemplation of nature

35. Ming Dynasty • Use 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

38. Chinese Dragon • The 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

42. Yin and Yang • Yin yang are complementary opposites within a greater whole • Taoist 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