Chinese AH Midterm

Cardinal Animals of the Four Directions

“black warrior” / turtle-snake - North

green dragon - East

vermillion bird - South

white tiger - West

Bodhisattva

Buddhist follower who has already attained enlightenment (forsaken worldly goods), but postponed Nirvana to help others attain enlightenment

The First Emperor of China

Qin Shi Huang, Qin dynasty 3rd century BCE

First Emperor’s tomb in Shaanxi province, Terracotta Army

The Library Cave

Dunhuang Cave 17, archive for over 50,000 Buddhist manuscripts and ancient literature, memorial hall to Dunhuang’s chief monk

Queen Mother of the West

Daoist goddess of immortality in the holy western mountains, accompanied by a three-legged toad, first depicted in the Western Han period

Sage of Chinese Calligraphy

Wang Xizhi (307-365 CE), his calligraphy was the basis for all accomplished calligraphers, was canonized by Emperor Taizong (r. 598-649 CE)

Shamanism

ancient religion with rituals, connected to animal motif

Shamans - religious leaders

The Silk Road

100 BCE

exchange of religious ideas (Buddhism), silk, art, and porcelain

goods that came from China in the silk road inspired Chinese art (fish symbols)

trade route that connects Mediterranean area to ancient China

The Three Perfections

poetry, calligraphy, and painting

all appear together in harmony

contributes to Confucian ideals

Zoomorphism

giving animal characteristics to humans and non-animal things

Admonitions of the Court Instructress

Chinese hand scroll silk painting

series of 12 scenes

Gu Kaizhi, Jin Dynasty, 4th century CE

Painted pottery jar

Majiayao culture

3rd millennium BCE

Standing Figure

Sanxingdui Pit (No. 2), Sichuan Province

1600-1046 BCE

Large jade cong

Liangzhu culture

late 3rd millennium BCE

Pouring cup / jue / bronze tripod vessel

Yanshi, Henan Province

Erlitou Culture (19th-16th century BCE)

Kneeling Tiger-Human made of marble

Anyang, Henan Province

Late Shang culture (14th-11th c. BCE)

Bronze Fangding square caldron with face decor and dragon-shaped feet

Tomb of Fu Hao, Anyang, Henan Province

Late Shang (13th century BCE)

Bronze ritual vessel Hu-gui

Plain of Zhou, Shaanxi Province

Late Western Zhou (9th century BCE)

Chime bells (Bianzhong)

Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zheng, Hubei Province

the Warring States period, late 5th century BCE

Terracotta army

Tomb of the First Emperor, Shaanxi Province

Qin Dynasty

Human and animal figurines

Yangling Mausoleum, Shaanxi Province

Mid-2nd century BCE

Funeral Banner of Lady Dai

Mawangdui Tomb 1, Hunan Province

Western Han Dynasty, 168 BCE

Boshanlu incense burner

Tomb of Liu Sheng, Mancheng County, Hebei

Western Han dynasty, 113 BCE

Cave 38

Kizil, Kucha (Xinjiang)

4th-6th century CE

Tiles with the relief depiction of Queen Mother of the West

Sichuan

Han Dynasty, 1st-2nd century CE

West wall stone-relief

Wu Liang Shrine, Shandong

Eastern Han Dynasty, 2nd century CE

East wall stone-relief

Wu Liang Shrine, Shandong

Eastern Han Dynasty, 2nd century CE

Lanting Orchid Pavilion Gathering

Wang Xizhi

Jin Dynasty, 353 CE

Admonitions of the Court Instructress

Gu Kaizhi (ca. 344-406)

Jin Dynasty, 4th CE

handscroll, ink and colors on silk

Eminent women, laquer-painted screen

Tomb of Sima Jinlong, Shanxi Province

484 CE

Colossal Buddha

Yungang Cave 20, Datong, Shanxi

Northern Wei Dynasty, 5th century CE

Painted tomb mural of the Queen Mother of the West

West slope of the front-chamber ceiling, Tomb No.5 at Dingjiazha, Jiuquan, Gansu Province

5th-6th century CE

Cave 285, Mogao Caves

Dunhuang, Gansu Province

Western Wei Dynasty, second quarter of the 6th century CE

Cave 428, Mogao Caves

Dunhuang, Gansu Province

Northern Zhou dynasty, mid-late 6th century CE

mural of a gate official

Tomb of Lou Rui, Shanxi Province

6th century CE

Procession of the Empress

entrance wall of the Central Binyang Cave, Longmen, Henan Province

Northern Wei dynasty, 6th century CE

Tomb of Li Xian (Prince Zhanghuai), Shaanxi

Tang Dynasty, 7th century

Autobiographical Essay (in wild cursive)

Monk Huaisu

777 CE

Eastern Hall, Foguang Temple

Shanxi

857 CE

The Sage Mother Hall

Shanxi

Northern Song dynasty (960-1127 CE)