Before 1280 CE

Ancient Chinese Art

Chinese Dynasties (1100 BCE – 1279 CE)

• Shang Dynasty 1500 BCE – 1027 BCE)

• Zhou Dynasty (1027 BCE – 256 BCE)

• Qin Dynasty (221 BCE – 206 BCE)

• Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE)

• Six Dynasties (220 CE – 587 CE)

• Sui Dynasty (587 CE – 618 CE)

• Tang Dynasty (618 CE – 960 CE)

• Song Dynasty (960 CE – 1279 CE)

3 Religions / Philosophies of China (introduced during the Han Dynasty)

Daoism (“The Way”) Philosophy on living emphasizing the relationship between humans and nature. Also, it stresses the idea of the individual moving into harmony with “the way of the universe”

Confucianism Philosophies from scholar and teacher Confucius (born in 551 BCE). Confucianism concerned with the human world and the attainment of peace. Social order and respect are central to this way of life.

Buddhism Buddhism spread to China from India on the “Silk Road”. The Chinese practice Mahayana Buddhism.

Soldiers, from the Tomb of Emperor Shihuangdi

Sculpture (Terra Cotta) 210 BCE (Qin Dynasty)

Soldiers (Detail) 210 BCE, Terra Cotta, (Qin Dynasty)

Soldiers

Tomb of Emperor Shihuangdi

Discovered in 1974 by farmers in Shaanxi Province in Northern China (more discovered in 1990)

1000’s of life-like clay statues of soldiers and horses to protect the tomb

Each statue is different with individual facial features / originally painted

Emperor Shihuangdi first emperor of China (first time China united under one ruler)

Emperor’s body hasn’t been found yet

Incense Burner

Sculpture (Bronze with gold inlay)

113 BCE (Han Dynasty)

Incense Burner

From the Tomb of Prince Liu Sheng

Used for burning incense

Daoist Art (humans and nature)

Story of Immortals in the Eastern Sea (humans and animals discover eternal life)

Admonitions of the Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies

Painting (Handscroll) 344 – 406 CE (Six Dynasties Period)

Admonitions of the Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies

Ink and color painted on silk

Handscroll is a type of “book” that rolls up and is held in the hands

Contains seven stories about the emperor’s wives

Story of Lady Feng protecting her husband from a bear that escaped from the circus

Travelers Among Mountains and Streams

Painting (Hanging Scroll)

11th Century CE (Song Dynasty)

Travelers Among Mountains and Streams

Ink and Colors on silk

Hanging Scroll (rolls up – 2 Meters long)

Landscapes are a major subject in Chinese art

Chinese paint from memory (first study nature)

Neo-Confucian philosophy of understanding nature

Tiny human figures on bottom right (humans are small compared to nature)

The Silk RouteIn the 2nd Century CE, The Silk Route was the longest road in the world

It stretched from Luoyang on the Yellow River to Rome (with different possible routes)

Used by traders, travelers, explorers, religious pilgrims, missionaries, conquerors, and adventurers

Seated Buddha

Sculpture (Stone)

Yungang, China (Shanxi Province)

460 CE (Six Dynasties Period –Wei)

13.7 Meters Tall

Seated Buddha During the Six Dynasties Period, many Buddha images were carved in rock / caves

Cave near the Silk Route

Tradition of giant Buddha statues

Central Chinese details (wide shoulders, masklike face, stylized drapery in his robe) with traditional Buddha features

Camel carrying a Group of Musicians

Earthenware (Ceramic) withthree-color glaze

Tang Dynasty (Mid-8th Century)

Height 66.5 cm

Camel carrying a Group of Musicians

Earthenware (Ceramic) withthree-color glaze

Tang Dynasty (Mid-8th Century)

Height 66.5 cm

Camels were a form of transportation on the Silk Route – from Central Asia

Tang China was cosmopolitan and tolerant of others

Many foreigners came to the capital of Xi’an, including many from Central Asia

New interest in naturalism in the art – alive with gesture and expression

Three-color glaze technique was a specialty of Tang ceramicists – amber, green, and white

Shape of Pagodas derived from Indian Stupas

Stupas and Pagodas hold ancient Buddhist relics

Wild Goose Pagoda (Xian, China)

Architecture (Stone)

645 CE (Tang Dynasty)

Wild Goose PagodaXian, China – capital of Tang Dynasty

Tang architecture is simple, symmetrical, and graceful

Houses sacred relics – ancient Buddhist Texts from India

Built for a monk who returned from a pilgrimage in India (he used the Silk Route)

Seated Guanyin Bodhisattva

Wood with paint and gold

10th – 12th Century

241.3 x 165.1 cm

Seated Guanyin Bodhisattva

Wood with paint and gold gilt

11th – 12th Century (Song Dynasty)

241.3 x 165.1 cm

Bodhisattvas are beings who are close to enlightenment, but who voluntarily remain on earth to help others achieve enlightenment

Represented as young prince wearing royal clothes and jewelry

Guanyin is the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion who appears in many guises, in this case as the Water and Moon Guanyin

Seated in the “royal ease” position with his left foot touching a lotus blossom

Statue was carved in the 11th or 12th Century, but the painting and gilding are 16th Century

Guan Ware Vase

Porcelain Stoneware with crackled glaze

Southern Song Dynasty, 13th Century CE

Height 16.8 cm

Guan Ware Vase

Southern Song Dynasty, 13th Century CE

Guan ware made for imperial use

Strong sense of harmony created by the simple shape

Lustrous white glaze with crackle pattern – the crackling technique was probably discovered by accident, but came to be used deliberately in Song wares

Play between perfection of vase’s shape and surface vs. the imperfection of the crackles