Chinese Art

Chinese Art Presentation

Neolithic period was compose of simple pottery and Sculpture.

   Shang Dynasty is remembered for their blue castings.

     Sui and Tang Dynasty, sculpture and Buddhist architecture, which was inspired by Indian art and the Gupta period.

     Song Dynasty, more subtle expressions of landscapes appeared in paintings. Emphasis was placed on spiritual elements.

     Ming Dynasty, artwork of this period perfected color painting & printings and busier compositions.

Chinese art began 2000 years ago and was influenced  by three major religions:           

         - Confucianism

         - Taoism 

         - Buddhism

Since all those religions stress the love of nature the main influence in their art reflected the nature around them.

Painters focused more on birds,  flowers, and landscapes

With landscape painters, they would try to get a feel for what they were painting so they would stress in the work things like the mist,  wind, water, and the mountains.

Paper-cuts:  With the invention of paper in the Han Dynasty Chinese paper Cutting became a new concept. Later came Chinese paper folding , which is know now as Origami.

      Paintings: They painted emperors, landscape and zodiac animals, flowers, ladies, and birds.

      Folk Arts: Includes Paper-cutting, Puppetry,  and Handicraft

      Silk

      Calligraphy: most highly appreciated arts exclusively created by amateurs, aristocrats and scholar-officials 

      Pottery

     Sculpture: made from stones, jade, lacquer, wood, metal, and clay.    

     Metal Art

In Chinese art many different types of materials were used such as:

Types of Medals

Bronze

Lacquer

Jade

Clay

Silk

Forms of cloth

Jade

Stone

Jade was used to make mirrors

Clay & stone was to make pottery and statues.

Human statues are from two separate half. Coming together to complete the entire statue.

In paper-cuts they like to cut Buddhas, opera faces, animals, flowers, children, and aerobics. 

In their painting they would use black and white, having one object with each color.

Zodiac animals, landscapes, opera faces, figure painting, mountains, and cranes, which were a symbol for long life, were popular subjects for their paintings. 

Other important subjects were the emperors and their court .

Chinese art began more than 4000 years ago and is still greatly appreciated in modern society. Although the Chinese culture has changed little, Chinese art has become prized in museums across the world. 

Chinese Art Quiz

1. This material was used to make Mirrors. 

2. Name one major religion that influenced chinese Art.

3. Known as chinese paper folding, this art form is called...

4. This period was composed of simple pottery and sculpture

5. This dynasty is remembered for its blue castings.