Art History 29: Chinese Art Final Terms

Syncretism of Three Doctrines

Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, middle period to late imperial period, NeoConfucianism, Dazu (Chongqing) — a philosophical and religious blending that influenced Chinese thought and culture.

Landscapes of Truth

Jing Hao/Ching Hao, “Notes on the Brush Method”/pi-fa-chi/Bifa ji, Fan Kuan, Taihang, Northern Song, emphasis on subjectivity (Wen C. Fong). Module 6 “monumental landscape painting” one is landscape of truth — A genre of Chinese landscape painting emphasizing spiritual and philosophical themes, often reflecting the ideals of Daoism and Confucianism.

Three Distances in Chinese Painting by Guo Xi

Guo Xi, Lingchuan Gaozhi, High distance, Level distance, Deep distance, Early Spring — A compositional technique in Chinese painting that emphasizes spatial depth through the use of foreground, middle ground, and background elements. This method creates a sense of perspective and enhances the viewer's experience of the landscape.

Eye of the Painting

artist's attitude toward the landscape, figure as a surrogate for the painter, critical locations that may not be obvious in the narrative, the traveling monk in Fan Kuan’s Travelers Among Mountains and Streams — A concept in Chinese landscape painting that emphasizes the viewer's perspective and emotional engagement with the artwork, often focusing on the balance between observation and interpretation.

Chan/Zen Art (Subject Matter, Religious Content, Artistic Style)

Buddhism; abbreviated, spontaneous, and untrammeled artistic style; spiritual reflection; enlightenment; Gong’an (Koan); Muqi — Chan (Chinese) or Zen (Japanese) Buddhism, characterized by a focus on simplicity, spontaneity, and direct expression of spiritual experience

Eremitism

hermit, solitude, seclusion, literati, Mongol Yuan dynasty, political elements, spiritual desire, retreat, landscape, connection with nature, identity, landscape painting — the practice or lifestyle of living as a hermit, often for religious or spiritual reasons. It involves withdrawing from society to live in solitude, focusing on personal contemplation, prayer, or meditation

Giuseppe Castiglione

an Italian Jesuit painter, Qing emperors, trained Chinese artists, European artistic techniques, chiaroscuro, linear perspective, hybrid Chinese-European style, Qing court — became renowned for his work in China. After arriving in Beijing in 1709, Castiglione worked at the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty, where he blended European techniques, such as linear perspective and oil painting, with traditional Chinese artistic styles — western realism

Dou-Gong Architecture

bracketing system, Chinese architecture, block and arm, unit, building structure, modular system, repair, modify, and expand — interlocking wooden brackets and beams that support the roof while allowing for intricate decorative patterns. This system provides structural stability, distributing weight and pressure efficiently, and is also known for its aesthetic beauty

“The Craft of Gardens” (Yuanye) by Ji Cheng

the earliest Chinese garden treatise, Ji as landscape painter and garden designer, 1631, perspective on culture and society, Late Ming Dynasty — Written during the Ming Dynasty, it outlines principles for creating aesthetically pleasing and harmonious gardens, blending natural elements with artistic composition. Ji Cheng emphasizes the importance of incorporating rock formations, water features, plantings, and architecture to evoke a sense of natural beauty and tranquility

Jingdezhen

capital/center of Chinese porcelain/ceramics, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Jiangxi Province, ease of transportation, the Yangtze, supply of wood for the kilns, Kaolin clay, modular process — renowned for its long history of porcelain production, dating back over 1,700 years. Known as the "Porcelain Capital," Jingdezhen has been a center of ceramic craftsmanship since the Tang Dynasty, and its high-quality porcelain became highly prized both domestically and internationally

Wang Xizhi

Sage of Chinese calligraphy, 4 th C/Jin Dynasty, canonized for his representation of mastery in all scripts, especially xingshu, running script, significance to calligraphy and gardens (particularly in terms of who, when, and why) showcased in the Langting Gathering in 353 — considered the greatest calligrapher in Chinese history. His style, particularly his cursive script (running script), became the standard for later generations