Introduction/ thesis
The Chinese “Yu” is translated into “Jade” in English (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). In Chinese culture the meaning is not so simplistic. The correct meaning of “Jade” is a “hard ornate stone” this is because it actually refers to several different stones including bowenite, jadeite and nephrite (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). This paper will look at the use of jade in Chinese culture and art.
What is Jade?
Jade is a stone that is used in many different types of Chinese art including sculpture, jewelry, carvings. The stone is excavated from riverbeds and mountains (cultural-china, 2007). When it is taken from the riverbed or mountain it needs to be cut and polished in order for the shine that is associated with the
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Besides the continual production of bi, cong, and ritual pieces. Jade carvers made a number of scepters that were used to showcase the different ranks of nobility. They were also used as ceremonial batons. It has been discovered that during the Zhou Dynasty people would use jade plugs to block the seven orifices of someone who had died (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). They also buried the dead with cicadas in their mouths (“Chinese jade, A brief introduction to Chinese culture,” 2005). This was because cicadas only come every seventeen years after being underground and so the Ancient Chinese associated this with rebirth (“Chinese jade, A brief introduction to Chinese culture,” …show more content…
Up until the Qing dynasty jade had been created primarily from nephrite (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). This is white jade which is also called bowenite or Khotan (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). In approximately 1800 merchants and traders began to import a new type of green jade from Burma. This was referred to as jadeite, kingfishers feather jade or Feicui (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). Soon the new jade became increasingly popular at the Manchu court. Nonetheless there was still a preference for the milky white jade of the nephrite variety amongst the older aristocrats and scholars (Encyclopedia of East Asian Art). Jade utensils became very popular during the Qing Dynasty as there are a number of jade dishware, including cups, bowls, bottles etc,. that have been discovered (Encyclopedia of East Asian
The Ancient Egyptian sculpture, “Statue of Nykara and His Family”, was sculpted during the late fifth dynasty. The sculpture is a depiction of Nykara, his wife, Nubkau, and son, Ankhma-Re. The statue is in poor condition with pieces of limestone missing and chips on the three subject’s faces and bodies. The painted limestone shows the conventional colors for the male and female subjects. There is a clear discoloration among Nykara and his son’s bodies. The brownish red color they once were has eroded to a light yellowish color, which resembles the purposeful color of Nykara’s wife. The hieroglyphs on Nykara’s seat insinuate that the sculpture is meant to be viewed from the front view. This is also evident by the way the three subjects are facing forward in frontal view. There are hieroglyphs on both the chair and base of the statue near Nykara’s wife and son’s feet.
During the Tang and Song dynasty, many excellent achievements have been accomplished which are still being preserved and used widely over centuries. Their citizens were excelled in many fields with several of new and practical inventions which all directly affected the citizens’ lives.
I learned about many significant artwork and artist in this class. This class provided me with a better understanding of the history of the world Art, but also helped me understand the development of art style. However, among all of these precious pieces of artwork, there are two special ones that caught my attention: The Chinese Qin Terracotta Warriors and The Haniwa. Each of them represents the artist’s stylistic characteristics and cultural context. Although they represented different art of rulers, historical values, and scenes, there were visible similarities.
The Three Kingdoms period was an era of Korean history in which, as the name suggests, three major kingdoms were fighting over territory in Korea. The Silla Kingdom was the largest of the three kingdoms and would eventually take control of Korea. In their bid to take control the Silla Kings and Queens saw their garments as a way to display their power. The Gold and Jade Crown is crafted out of semi-precious stones, including jade and gold. In the Silla Kingdom, gold was reserved for the highest ranking royals. The value of the materials used in the crown was a tangible way for the Silla royalty to display their wealth and power. The Merovingian fibulae were created by the Frankish Merovingian dynasty. The Frankish Merovingian dynasty was one of several different Frankish royal groups vying for power after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The fibulae itself was adopted by the Merovingians and many other barbarian groups from the Romans. The red garnet used in this fibula and the eagle are also thought to be nods to the fallen Roman Empire. During the long reign of the
Interregnum, painted by the Chinese artist Hung Liu, is a massive oil painting created circa 2002. With the intentional application of several principles and elements of art in her work, Liu effectively depicts her late Asian culture’s traditional aspects while also exposing the harsh reality of China’s Communist society. Hung Liu incorporates a variety of styles into Interregnum while also utilizing color and line to visually communicate the subject matter to the viewer. In a formal interpretation of this work, the overarching theme of Interregnum will be explored and described, focusing on the particular values sought out by the artist Hung Liu.
According to Art in China by Craig Clunas, the Wei Dynasty, which started in 386 and ended in 535, was an era in which Buddhism was central to the culture of both the noble and common people. For much of the Wei dynasty the artists and sculptors were slaves to the state. Different styles of Buddhist art were popular during this period. At first, the artists copied some elements from Indian Buddhist sculpture, but then they developed their own style. During the Wei most of the art produced had a connection to Buddhism, and the emperors spent a great amount of resources to have the Buddhist art pieces produced (Clunas 92-97).
The novel “The Jade Peony” is narrated by three different characters throughout the story as it progresses. In part one of the book, it is narrated by a character named “Jook Liang” but usually just called Liang while in conversation. The reader is told the setting and time of the plot, which is in Vancouver, BC and in the time of the Great Depression (In the 1930s). We also learn the names of all the members in Liang’s family. An important figure in Liang’s portion of the story is a man named Wong-Suk. Wong-Suk and Liang become great friends, he occasionally tells her tales from the past. While Poh-Poh was helping Liang tie a ribbon for her tap dance shoes, we learn about her childhood. Poh-Poh was considered disfigured and her mom sold her to a family, where she
The pieces of sculpture are both carved using the subtractive method of sculpting from stone. However, the types of stone used were very different. The sculpture of Mycerinus and Kha-merer-nebty II was carved from a stone called greywacke, a dark colored, very hard stone the Egyptians prized for sculpture despite the fact t...
Chang, Kwang-chih 1968 The Archeology of Ancient China Yale University Press, New Haven & London
We have all been in a situation where we have immigrated to a new country for different reasons regarding, better future, or education. In the book Jade of Peony, Wayson Choy describes a struggle of a Chinese family as they settle in Canada, with their new generation of kids born here, the family struggles to keep their children tied to their Chinese customs and traditions as they fit in this new country. The Chinese culture needs to be more open minded as it limits the future generation’s potential. Chinese culture limitations are seen through the relationship expectations, education, gender roles and jobs.
Perhaps one of the biggest issues foreigners will come upon is to maintain a strong identity within the temptations and traditions from other cultures. Novelist Frank Delaney’s image of the search for identity is one of the best, quoting that one must “understand and reconnect with our stories, the stories of the ancestors . . . to build our identities”. For one, to maintain a firm identity, elderly characters often implement Chinese traditions to avoid younger generations veering toward different traditions, such as the Western culture. As well, the Chinese-Canadians of the novel sustain a superior identity because of their own cultural village in Vancouver, known as Chinatown, to implement firm beliefs, heritage, and pride. Thus in Wayson Choy’s, The Jade Peony, the novel discusses the challenge for different characters to maintain a firm and sole identity in the midst of a new environment with different temptations and influences. Ultimately, the characters of this novel rely upon different influences to form an identity, one of which being a strong and wide elderly personal
The Jade Peony, written by Wayson Choy, is a beautiful short story about the relationship between a young boy and his grandmother. The story deals with many complicated social and emotional issues including change, death, and acceptance. As we explore the repeating conflicts in the story we begin to understand how difficult it is to assimilate cultural beliefs and traditions into a new life.
...f this object. The qin was a very important element in Chinese society during the Han dynasty as it was one of the many aspects in the creation of the two opposing social identities within the same culture. Unlike the effect music had on diaspora communities, it was a factor in the divergence of people in a community.
...des us with a glimpse into the ancient culture using beautiful and detailed designs. The art form has been sustained in fired clay for thousands of years indiscriminately telling its story to the world and to history.
Chinese music dates back to 1000 BC. A man named Ling Lun created the first of the musical instruments in China. Ling Lun developed a set of 60 bells. From these bells, he created a mathematical method for creating pitch pipes to tune the bells. One of the first instruments created was a bamboo pipe. Composers and philosophers idea behind this music was to calm and relax people from the calming sounds. An ancient Chinese belief is the music is meant to purify one's thoughts.