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The Art of China. Chapter 10.2. The Beginnings of Chinese Civilization. The history of China is marked by the rise and fall of dynasties and kingdoms.
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The Art of China Chapter 10.2
The Beginnings of Chinese Civilization • The history of China is marked by the rise and fall of dynasties and kingdoms. • Recorded in the long history of China is a similar succession of dynasties, each with it’s own unique problems and its own special contributions to art. • Chinese civilization is the oldest continuous culture in the world. • As it grew, its people gained skill and knowledge in many different fields. • Chinese accomplishments: • The compass • Paper • Porcelain • Printing with carved wood blocks
Early Bronze Vessels • Skill in bronze casting was developed at an early date in Chinese history • Bronze vessels found in ancient graves reveal that Chinese artisans had developed these skills by the First Dynasty, also known as the Shang Dynasty which began around 1766BC. • Many of the early bronze vessels show extraordinary technical mastery that probably took centuries to master. • The Chow Dynasty followed the Shang Dynasty in 1030B.C. They produced little change in art and gave way to the powerful Han Dynasty in 206B.C.
Early Chinese Painting • The art of painting is mentioned in Chinese literature several centuries before the birth of Christ. • A women named Lei is mentioned as the first Chinese painter • Unfortunately no paintings have survived from this period. • Written reports tell us that paintings of great skill and beauty were created and appreciated.
The Arrival of Buddhism During The Han Dynasty • Near the end of the Han Dynasty, the religion of Buddhism which originated in India, came to China. • Had a great impact on how artists approached their work. • Helped raise artists to a position of respect and admiration in Chinese society. • Chinese were the first to consider the painting of pictures an honorable task and were highly regarded.
Standing Buddha StatueGilded Bronze55x19in477A.D. • Bodhisattva - A person who had either postponed death or made the decision to return to the world for the purpose of bringing comfort and offering guidance to the living. • One of the largest sculptures surviving from this period • With a serene smile, he extends his open hands in a sign of welcome and a promise of peace that must have been reassuring and calming to those who saw it. • Unlike ancient Greek sculptors, the Chinese did not regard the body as a thing of beauty and did not regard sculpture as an important art form • This cause them to limit their sculptures to religious portraits such as this sculpture.
The Importance of Meditation • Buddhism like other Eastern religions, places great emphasis on meditation. • This emphasis has an important impact on Chinese art. • Meditation is the process of focusing one’s thoughts on a single object or idea. • It allows one to experience completely the inherent beauty or meaning of that object or idea. • Buddhist monks will remain motionless in meditation for hours, or even entire days. • They may contemplate a leaf sagging from the weight of raindrops, or the possible meanings of single words. • Chinese artists found meditation enabled them to recognize beauty of a leaf, a tree, a rock, or a mountain. They were then better prepared to capture that beauty in their paintings.
Increased Concern for Landscape Painting • For more than a thousand years the figure dominated in Chinese painting, just as in the West. • By the ninth century began seeing a bigger appreciation for nature and by the eleventh century this trend was complete. • While western artists continued to focus on people, artists in China preferred to concentrate on nature and landscape painting. • To gain the knowledge and skills of Chinese painting, artists spent years copying earlier artists but were also expected to add their own touches.
Scroll Painting • Earliest Chinese paintings to have survived over time are hanging scrolls and horizontal scrolls, or hand scrolls. • Scroll – a long roll of illustrated parchment or silk and were designed to be rolled and easy to store • When their owners were in the mood for quiet reflection they took them out, like taking a book from a shelf to read. • Unrolling the scroll section by section allowed the viewer to journey from scene to scene
The End of the Han Dynasty • The culture of the Han Dynasty rivaled that of the Roman Empire, which was flourishing at the same time in history. • The Han Dynasty extended over a 400 year period, the second longest in Chinese history. • A series of weak emperors brought the Han Empire to an end. • There followed a period, beginning at the close of the third century AD in which China was divided into a number of small states. • None of the states were stone enough to conquer the others and finally restore a unified empire. • After a period chaos, a new dynasty, the Tang dynasty assumed control and ruled for nearly 300 years.
The Powerful Tang Dynasty • China reached a peak of power and influence. • People enjoyed prosperity. • The army expanded the boarders of the empire. • Foreign trade increased • Buddhism grew in strength
Night-Shining White Han Ganc. 742-56 Tang Dynasty Handscroll – Ink on paper • Horses were highly prized by the Chinese. • The emperor Ming Huang was said to own more than 40,000. • The hand scroll shows one of his favorite horses rearing against the tether that binds him to the post. • The many inscriptions are written approvals from collectors expressing their approval of the artwork. This can be found on many Chinese paintings and adds it’s own ornamentation.
Use of Line • One of the chief measures in excellence in Chinese painting throughout its long history is the quality of the brush line, which can be seen in the painting Night-Shining White. • A delicate use of line is combined with subtle value gradations to give the animal a realistic appearance. • This work demonstrates that the artist knew his subject well a applied his knowledge effectively to his art.
The Stable Sun Dynasty • Following the collapse of the Tang dynasty in 906, China experienced a period of confusion. • Finally in 960 reunification was experienced under the Sung dynasty. • The rule of this dynasty was a period of stability that produced great artists whose work has been admired for centuries.
The Production of Porcelain • During the Sung dynasty the production of porcelain had reached new heights. • Porcelain – a fine grained, high quality form of china and is made from primarily white clay • Relatively rare and can only be found in a few places in China. Europe, England, and North America • After the vessel is made it is fired in a kiln to a very high temperature. It is then coated with a glaze for color and then fired once more.
The Water and Moon Guanyin BodhisattvaSung DynastyWood with Paint 95x65in • Depicts a Bodhisattva figure traditionally associated with mercy and compassion. • Relaxed attitude associated with Sung dynasty. • Prayers to this Buddha-to-be were answered in the form of protection against any possible misfortune. • Figure is resting a moss covered ledge, which contrasts with the splendid garments and jewels. • Calm, gentle, and smiling, the figure offers no threat to those who approach. • The direct gaze encourage viewers that the Bodhisattva is only concerned with them.
Landscape Painting • Sung dynasty was known for its great landscape artists. • Claimed that the value of landscape painting lay in its capacity to to make viewers feel as if they were really in the place pictured. • Clearing Autumn Skies over Mountains and Valleys, the artist invites you to journey beneath the trees of a mountain landscape. • As you unroll the scroll you can journey through the forest of towering pines, pause beside the flowing stream, and gaze up and the misty mountains.
Use of Multiple Vanishing Points • Unlike Western paintings, Chinese art makes use of different vanishing points. • Vanishing Point – used in perspective drawing, a point at which receding parallel lines seem to converge. • As you unroll the scroll the perspective shifts and makes you feels as if you are indeed traveling through the image. • Every opportunity is provided for you to stop and examine natural beauty, like flower heavy with dew or a butterfly on a flower. • Nothing to distract you from quiet contemplation or meditation. • Even shadows are eliminated so that they don’t interfere with efforts to enjoy the painting.
Traditional Western Perspective Drawing with a Vanishing Point One Point Perspective Two Point Perspective
The End of the Sung Dynasty • In 1224 Genghis Khan and his powerful Mongol army swept into northwest China, bringing an end to the Sung Dynasty and a start t foreign rule in China • Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan’s grandson, took over control of the country and established the Yuan dynasty. • Artists such as QianXuan, painted scenes of a familiar Chinese theme, the quiet contemplation of nature. Wang-His-Chih Watching Geese Qian-Xuan c. 1295 Handscroll Ink, color, and gold on paper 9.5 x 36.5 inches
Twin Pines, Level DistanceZhao Meng-Fuc.1310 Ink on Paper • Painting was only started after a great amount of time was meditating on the subject. • Practices his skills at representing nature for many years before actually painting the final picture. He would carefully study the paintings of earlier masters rather than studying nature. • Only when his skills were perfected did he attempt to create a painting based on his own response to the natural world. • Artworks like this were not done to tell a story, teach a lesson, or decorate a home. They were intended to inspire in the viewer the same thoughts that the artist had while creating the image.
Use of the Elements and Principles • What is NOT in the painting is as important as what you DO see. Most of the painting is simply left blank. • Unity – The landscape has been reduced to its barest essentials. • Space – The twin peaks rise in the foreground to give a strong sense of space in the landscape. • Line – A few lines depict the hills in the distance and draw your attention to the expanse of the work. • Emphasis – The artist shows concentration and confidence with the emphasis placed on each brushstroke.
The Art of the Ming Dynasty • Followed the collapse of the Yuan dynasty in 1368. • Signified the end of foreign rule in China and the beginning of a new dynasty, the Ming dynasty. • A time in which artists sought to restore the glories of the past. • Painting = nature scenes of great beauty were done on silk and paper and continued traditions from the past • Ceramics = a range of new styles and techniques were developed like the use of cobalt blue glazes on Chinese porcelain
Decline of the Ming Dynasty • Tribes from Manchuria conquered China in 1644. • End of the Ming dynasty and start of the Ching dynasty which continued until 1912. • Manchu rulers were determined to make the Chinese culture part of their own. • Chinese painting experienced a decline during this time. • Porcelain production fared better than painting and many fine works were produced. • Unfortunately due to warfare and rebellion the 19th century resulted in the destruction of most kilns and the flight of talented artists.
Vocab & Quiz Review • Porcelain – a fine grained, high quality form of china and is made from primarily white clay • Bodhisattva - A person who had either postponed death or made the decision to return to the world for the purpose of bringing comfort and offering guidance to the living. • Scroll – a long roll of illustrated parchment or silk and were designed to be rolled and easy to store • Vanishing Point – used in perspective drawing, a point at which receding parallel lines seem to converge.
