Overview of Chinese, Japanese, Greek, and Egyptian Art

Cai Lun

Han court eunuch who invented paper in 1st Century AD.

Six Principles of Chinese Painting

Guidelines for creating interesting and realistic paintings.

Straight inclined roof

Economical roof style for common Chinese architecture.

Multi-inclined roof

Roof with multiple incline sections for wealthy residences.

Sweeping roof

Curved roof design reserved for temples and palaces.

Peking opera face-painting

Colorful makeup reflecting characters' personalities.

Lianpu

False mask used in Peking opera face-painting.

Guan Ju (Red)

Indicates devotion, courage, and loyalty in face painting.

Huang Pang (Yellow)

Signifies fierceness and ambition in face painting.

Zhu Wen (Green)

Represents impulsiveness and lack of self-restraint.

Zhang Fei (Black)

Symbolizes roughness or selflessness in character portrayal.

Lian Po (Purple)

Stands for uprightness and cool-headedness in characters.

Cao Cao (White)

Suggests treachery and craftiness in villainous roles.

Jiang Gan (Clown)

Special makeup patterns for comedic characters in opera.

Sycee

Gold or silver ingot currency symbolizing prosperity.

Paper Cutting (Jianzhi)

Symmetrical designs often featuring zodiac themes.

Chinese Kite

Traditional flying craft differentiated into four categories.

Hanamusubi

Japanese knot tying emphasizing braids and individual knots.

Ukiyo-e

Popular Japanese art style depicting 'floating world' scenes.

Kabuki makeup

Facial painting style reflecting character roles in theater.

Origami

Art of paper folding originating in 17th century Japan.

Woodblock printing

Technique for printing text and images in Japan.

Ancient Greek Art

Art reflecting democracy, individualism, and perfection ideals.

Archaic period

Early Greek art characterized by simple geometric forms.

Classical period

Golden age of Greece focusing on beauty and truth.

Hellenistic period

More emotional and naturalistic art style post-Classical age.

Greek pottery

Art form depicting war, sport, and daily life.

Black figure style

Black-painted figures on red terra-cotta background.

Red figure style

Red figures on a black-painted background.

Ancient Egyptian pyramids

Tombs for pharaohs containing items for afterlife.

Hieroglyphics

Early form of picture writing used in Ancient Egypt.

Mummification

Preservation of bodies for the afterlife in Egypt.

Imhotep

First recorded artist, architect of the step pyramid.

King Tutankhamun's mask

Gold mask found on the mummy of King Tut.