Ch. 16 & 33 "Art of China"
Lady Feng and the Bear
"This scene shows the courage of Lady Feng as she stand in front of her husband, a Han emperor, from the escaped circus bear who is rushing toward them. She remains calm and the devout wife in contrast to the two female servants turn to run away. This painting is also a good example of Chinese painting from this period. The figures are drawn with a brush in a thin, even width line, and a few outlined areas are filled with color. Movement and emotion are shown through conventions such as the bands flowing from Lady Feng's dress, indicating that she is rushing forward. The upturned stings on both sides of the emperor's head suggest his fear."
Han Dynasty
(202 BCE-220 CE) This dynasty continued the centralization of the Qin Dynasty, but focused on Confucianism and education instead of Legalim.
Song Dynasty
(960-1279 CE) The Chinese dynasty that placed much more emphasis on civil administration, industry, education, and arts other than military.
Daoism
-Daoism is an outlook on life that brings together many ancient ideas regarding humankind and the universe -it is often said that the Chinese are Confucians in public and Daoists in private and that the two approaches seem to balance each other
Period of Disunity
220-581
Neo-Confucianism
A philosophy that emerged in Song-dynasty China; it revived Confucian thinking while adding in Buddhist and Daoist elements.
A dragon may represent the yang, the principle characterized by which of the following?
Active masculine energy
Guang, Bronze Ritual Vessel
An ancient Chinese covered vessel, often in animal form, holding wine, water, grain, or meat for sacrificial rites
The Noon Gate in the Forbidden City has five portals. Only the emperor can walk through the center portal. The next two portals immediately to the left and right of the center portal are reserved for the imperial family and high officials. The final two portals provide passage for everyone else. Which of the following rituals does this gateway describe?
An imperial court ritual
How do these images reflect the Chinese Buddhist tradition? (Images of Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna, gilded bronze and golden buddha from)
Both images are of Buddhas. To me they resemble how Buddhism or any religion changes depending on what culture is practicing it. The figures in Chinese Buddhism look Chinese because they resemble their culture while Buddhas sculpted in India tend to look different. These had appeal to the audience they were trying to attract in order to spread Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Good but explain what you mean by look Chinese. You have the right idea just need to be more specific. Shakyamuni Buddha, Period of Disunity (Figure 16-12) and Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna, Period of Disunity (Figure 16-14). The Shakyamuni Buddha is the first datable Chinese representation of the Buddha. It resembles the Gandharan prototype with certain misinterpretations. The meditation gesture has been placed as hands clasped across the Buddha's stomach rather than palms upward and thumbs barely touching the torso. The figure is gilt bronze reflecting the texts as radiating golden light. The Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna figure was created for private devotions. This figure shows the transformation into the Chinese style of elongated proportions and elegant draperies. The rhythmic sweep and linear elegance of the folds recall brushwork of contemporary panting. Even the figures' features have been transformed into typically Chinese features.
Forbidden City
Built in the Ming Dynasty, was a stunning monument in Bejing built for Yonglo. All commoners and foreigners were forbidden to enter without special permission.
Chinese calligraphy
Chinese characters written with ink and a brush
Silk Road
Connected China, India, and the Middle East. Traded goods and helped to spread culture. "Many other features of Chinese culture also came into focus including the central roles played by two systems of thought, Confucianism and Daoism. Daoism emphasizes the relationship between humans and nature. While Confucianism is focuses on the human world, it presents an ethical system based on relationships among people in social order to attain peace. The Han emperor Wu made Confucianism the official imperial philosophy, and it remained the state ideology until the imperial rule in the twentieth century."
Briefly describe Daoism.
Daoism is a set of values that believes in bringing together ancient ideas about humankind and the universe. To achieve balance and peace. "It emerged from the metaphysical teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi. It stresses intuitive awareness nurtured by harmonious contact with nature and eschews everything that is artificial. Daoists believe strength comes from flexibility and inaction. They favor personal cultivation over societal cultivation. The Dao cannot be described but is suggested only through analogies; for example, the Dao is likened to water, yielding yet wearing away the stone."
The Chinese interest in landscape painting was most strongly influenced by which of the following?
Daoist harmony with nature and poetic themes
Many Shang bronze vessels were used for rituals, and the shape of the vessel matched its function in the ritual. Therefore, it can be said that the fabulous animal shape is not purely decorative. Which of the following supports this statement?
Each animal shape connected with the world of spirits in the ritual
During the Six Dynasties, Buddhism arrived in China. The oldest Chinese Buddhist texts describe Buddha as golden and radiating light. The Shakyamuni Buddha of the Six Dynasties is the first precisely datable Chinese Buddhist image. Which of the following is the medium used for this image?
Gilded bronze
Which of the following buildings was the focus of the north-south axis of the Forbidden City? A. Noon Gate B. Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies C. Hall of Preserved Elegance D. Hall of Supreme Harmony
Hall of Supreme Harmony
During the Yuan dynasty, why was bamboo used to symbolize a Chinese gentleman?
It was symbolic to a gentleman because it did bend but not break. Controlling anger and emtions being a gentleman. Focused on values. "Like bamboo, an ideal Chinese gentleman was believed to be the one who bends in adversity but does not break."
Which of the following is a characteristic of literati painting? A. Polished example of the court style B. Follows the most current trends in painting style C. Appeals to a wide audience D. Personal conversation in pictures and words
Personal conversation in pictures and words
Shang Dynasty
Second Chinese dynasty (about 1750-1122 B.C.) which was mostly a farming society ruled by an aristocracy mostly concerned with war. They're best remembered for their art of bronze casting.
Yan Liben's The Thirteen Emperors depicts thirteen Chinese rulers from the Han to the Sui dynasties. Its purpose was to portray these individuals as exemplars of moral and political virtue. Which of the following would explain this role of moral and political virtue?
The Confucian ideal of learning from the past
Confucius (Kong Fuzi)
The founder of Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in its history.
Wax method
Wax model made; clay mold formed around the model; model heated and the wax melted; empty place filled with molten metal
The David Vases
Yuan Dynasty, China. 1351 C.E. White porcelain with cobalt-blue underglaze. Date on the neck of the vase
piece-mold technique
a clay model of the bronze vessel-to-be was made (1) when hardened, soft clay was pressed against it, taking on the negative impression of both its shape and decoration these clay pieces were removed in sections to form the piece-molds (2) the model was then shaved down to become the core ( the walls of the bronze vessel would exactly equal in thickness this layer that had been shaved off). the piece-molds were then reassembled around the core and molten bronze was poured into the space between the mold and the core after cooling, the mold pieces were removed revealing the new bronze vessel (3) which was then cleaned and polished
Qin Dynasty
a short-lived Chinese dynasty that replaced the Zhou Dynasty in the third century B.C.
Confucianism
a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius.
Tang Dynasty
dynasty often referred to as China's Golden age that reigned during 618 - 907 AD; China expands from Vietnam to Manchuria
Qutb Minar, Delhi, India
mosque complex in Delhi built in the early 13th Century by Qutb al-Din Aybek, expanded by Iltutmish and Ala al-Din Khalji.
Zhou Dynasty
the longest lasting Chinese dynasty, during which the use of iron was introduced. ruled for 800 years
Lakshanas
various symbols that mark Buddha's body and face (symbols of enlightenment)
