Art China and Japan

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Vocabulary Bodhisattva Scroll Porcelain Pagoda Ya
mato-e Ukiyo-e Woodblock printing
Art China and Japan
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The Beginnings of Chinese Civilization, which
began some 2,000 years before the birth of
Christ, is the oldest continuous culture in the
world. As this civilization grew, its people
gained skill and knowledge in many different
fields. Among Chinese accomplishments are the
inventions of the compass, paper, porcelain, and
printing with carved wood blocks.
TEAPOT. This artifact is from the Ming dynasty.
It is both a functional object as well as a piece
of fine art
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Near the end of the Han dynasty, the religion of
Buddhism, which originated in India, came to
China. This religion had a great impact on the
way artists approached their work. It also helped
raise artists to a position of respect and
admiration in Chinese society. The Chinese people
were the first to consider the painting of
pictures an important and honorable task they
placed artists on the same level as poets, who
were very highly regarded
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Unlike ancient Greek sculptors, Chinese sculptors
did not regard the body as a thing of beauty.
This attitude, combined with the fact that they
did not regard sculpture as one of the important
arts, caused them to limit their sculpture
production to religious portraits such as that of
the Bodhisattva.
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power and influence. The people enjoyed
prosperity, military campaigns extended the
boundaries of the empire, foreign trade
increased, and Buddhism grew in strength.
Tomb sculptures, chiefly in clay, were also
created to honor the dead. Many of these tomb
sculptures were of animals. An excellent example
is the earthenware and polychrome glazed horse.
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Tang Handscroll
Horses were highly prized by the Chinese. The
emperor Ming Huang was said to own more than
40,000. The handscroll illustrated below shows
one of his favorite horses rearing against the
tether that binds it to a post
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bringing an end to the Sung dynasty. Following a
period of strife, the Mongols, under Kublai Khan,
a grandson of Genghis Khan, took control of the
country and established the Yiian dynasty. During
this time, artists such as Ch'ien Hsiian (chee-en
shoo-ahn) painted scenes that repeat a familiar
Chinese theme the quiet contemplation of nature.
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decorate a wall of a house. They were intended to
inspire in the viewer the same deep thoughts that
passed through the mind of the artist while the
work was created. A work like this would be
unrolled and savored only when the viewer was in
the proper state of mind and was certain not to
be disturbed.
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Japan
Hiroshi Yoshida, wood block, 1939
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presented the treasures of his court to the Great
Buddha enshrined at Todaiji. Other gifts were
later added to these treasures and were housed
and protected in the temple. As a result, no less
than 10,000 works of eighth century Japanese art
were preserved.
The Yamato-e Style Contacts with China continued
until 898 when ties were broken as a consequence
of internal strife in Japan. No longer able to
draw inspiration from China, Japanese artists
developed their own unique style of painting,
which was known as Vamato-e, or painting in the
Japanese manner.
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Kawae Hause Rain in Maehawa Woodblock
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For centuries, the dragon has been a symbol of
power and mystery. Depicted in countless
legends, both Eastern and Western, the dragon has
provoked man to fear and worship it. In medieval
Europe, it was a blood thirsty, fire breathing
figure. Its malevolence and ferociousness struck
terror in all. However in Asia, it is the
contrary. The mighty dragon is a mythical beast
long celebrated for its benevolence, intelligence
and good will. The dragon has been a common
symbol of identity for East Asian cultures. In
fact, Chinese people all over the world are
affectionately known as lung de chuan ren, or the
descendants of the dragon. There are several
distinct types of Chinese dragons The Horned
dragon is considered the mightiest. The Celestial
dragon supports the heavens and protects the
Gods. The earth dragon rules all of the earth The
Spiritual Dragon controls the wind and rain. The
treasure Dragon is the keeper of all precious
metals and gems The Winged Dragon is the only
dragon with wings The Coiling Dragon dwells in
the ocean. The Yellow Dragon is a hornless dragon
known for its scholarly knowledge.
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Suzuki Harunobu, Girl admiring Plum Blossoms at
Night. 1768 woodblock
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are worn. The shape of the kimono and its
dimensions are carefully prescribed. The fabric
must be silk, or cotton for summer, and is
decorated with embroidery or intricate batik
designs. Lengths of fabric are sewn together to
make long, straight panels. Kimonos can be worn
for many years they are often passed along as
family treasures.
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Ito Shinsui Shrine in Snow wood block
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The artist first prepared a design in ink, adding
color notations to guide the printer. The lines
of the design were then transferred to a wood
block, and a specialist in wood cutting carved
away the wood between the lines. A separate block
was prepared for each color. Finally, the printer
inked each block and pressed each one against
paper, being careful to align the blocks exactly.
Since
Spring Dance Scene 1694 wood block print
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