Breaking the Balustrade

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Breaking the Balustrade Anonymous 12th
Century Hanging Scroll, Ink and color on
silk 173.9x101.8 cm National Palace Museum Taipei
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BIG IDEA Beliefs and values are reflected in a
cultures arts
What beliefs and values are reflected in this
painting ?
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CLAIM The painting Breaking the Balustrade
displays Confucian beliefs and values.
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The emperor sits while all others stand. The
official bows as he speaks. Even the accused
stands humbly at the side of the emperor. Only
Chu Yun, being held back by the guards is not
showing his respect. This shows the
emperor-subject relationship and li.
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The women are hidden behind the emperor showing
the lower status of women in traditional
Confucian social structure.
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Chu Yun is accusing a higher official of
corruption. This displays Confucius insistence
on honest government. A scholar was supposed to
be the highest example of ren. Confucius
meritocracy was supposed to be a more fair and
honest form of government.
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This painting shows the value of tradition and
the past. It is a scene from the Han dynasty
painted almost 800 years later in the Sung
dynasty. During the Sung dynasty trade flourished
and a large merchant class developed a taste for
luxurious living. Confucius despised merchants.
It was greed and the desire for wealth that
corrupted officials like the one accused in this
painting. The painter reminds the observer of
traditional Confucian values!
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Write the elaboratrion
From the evidence
This painting shows the value of tradition and
the past. It is a scene from the Han dynasty
painted almost 800 years later in the Sung
dynasty. During the Sung dynasty trade flourished
and a large merchant class developed a taste for
luxurious living. Confucius despised merchants.
The emperor sits while all others stand. The
official bows as he speaks. Even the accused
stands humbly at the side of the emperor. Only
Chu Yun, being held back by the guards is not
showing his respect. This shows the
emperor-subject relationship and li.
Chu Yun is accusing a higher official of
corruption. This displays Confucius insistence
on honest government. A scholar was supposed to
be the highest example of ren. Confucius
meritocracy was supposed to be a more fair and
honest form of government.
The place of women in the Confucian social
structure.
The women are hidden begind the emperor showing
the lower status of women in traditional
Confucian social structure.
It exemplifies li and the emperor-subject
relationship.
It displays the values of meritocracy and honest
government.
It shows the Confucian value of tradition and the
past.
It was greed and the desire for wealth that
corrupted officials like the one accused in this
painting. The painter reminds the observer of
traditional Confucian values!
9
Breaking the Balustrade was painted byin the
Sung Dynasty. It shows Cheng Ti, the emperor
seated. On his left is.another official is
pleading the case of Chu Yun who is being held
back by guards
Develop the elaboration
The place of women in the Confucian social
structure.
It exemplifies li and the emperor-subject
relationship.
It shows the place of women in Confucian society,
exemplifies li and the emperor-subject
relationship. It shows the Confucian value of
tradition and the past by reminding the observer
of honesty in government and the dangers of
wealth.
It displays the values of meritocracy and honest
government.
It shows the Confucian value of tradition and the
past.