Arts of China

Neolithic

7000-1700 BCE

Bi

Jade discs from Neolithic Period, buried with dead

Cong

Jade tubes from Neolithic Period, buried with dead

What material was widely used and valued during the neolithic period?

Jade

Bronze Age

1650-221 BCE

Shang Dynasty

1650-1050 BCE

What material became popular in the Shang Dynasty

Bronze

Zhou Dynasty

1050-256 BCE

Mandate of Heaven

Idea spread originally during the Zhou Dynasty/Warring States. Ruler has the “mandate of heaven”, but natural disasters, military defeat etc. signifies lack of mandate. Used to justify overthrow of Zhou Dynasty.

What kind of decorative motifs were popular in the Shang Dynasty?

Geometric zoomorphic surface carvings.

How were animals represented in the Zhou dynasty?

Shift from zoomorphic patterns to entire vessels shaped as an animal.

What kind of decorative motifs were popular in the Zhou Dynasty?

Abstract patterning, longer inscriptions cast into vessels

How were bronze vessels used in the Shang Dynasty?

Ritualistic purposes

What kind of decorative motifs were popular in the Zhou Dynasty?

Display of power

Warring States Period

475-221 BCE

Bronze Age

1650-221 BCE

What periods does the Bronze Age cover?

Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, Warring States

What instruments were unearthed from Marquis Yi’s tombs?

A set of 64 bianzhong (bells)

Who was Di in the Bronze Age

The Supreme Diety, God

When was the Qin Dynasty?

221-207 BCE

When was the Han Dynasty?

202 BCE-220 CE

What was Qin Shihuangdi’s rule like?

Centralized bureaucratic gov, division of country into small administrative units overseen by educated officials, standardization of writing, weight, measurement, axle widths, laws, etc, the first iteration of the Great Wall, scholarly books that Qin didnt like burnt, suppression of dissent through prison or death

Has Qin Shihuangdi’s tomb excavated?

No, the Terracotta Army was found outside of his tomb. Technology to excavate the tomb is being discussed and debated.

Did the Terracotta Warriors have color?

Yes. Many of them still had lacquer paint on them when originally excavated, however this paint soon disappeared when exposed to the air. 

What were some other things found near Qin Shihuangdi’s tomb?

Bronze chariots, real weapons, armor made out of stone tiles, acrobats, bronze animals

When was the Three Kingdoms period?

221-265 CE

When was the Six Dynasties period?

265-587 CE

When did an appreciation of painting and calligraphy really jump into the forefront?

Three Kingdoms/Six Dynasties

When did Buddhism rise

Three Kingdoms/Six Dynasties (Period of Disunity)

What are the four noble truths of Buddhism?

In all life there is suffering.

Suffering is caused by desire or attachment.

One can overcome or transcend desire or attachment.

Transcending desire can be achieved by following the eightfold path.

How did Bhuddism spread?

Spread from northern India to China through disciples and sutras (sacred texts)

What is the definition of Buddha?

Someone who has achieved enlightenment. 

What is an ushnisha?

Knot on top of the head in a buddha

What is an urna?

Whorl/dot of hair between eyebrows of a Buddha.

What is the circular/petal shaped field that may appear behind an image of a Buddha

Mandala

What is a bodhisattva?

One that reaches enlightenment, but refuses it to remain on Earth and aid other people in achieving enlightenment.

What are mudras?

symbolic hand and body gestures used in Buddhist art and practice to represent spiritual concepts, teachings, and states of being

Who is the historical Buddha/Shakyamuni Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama

What is Maitreya?

Future Buddha

Who is the Bodhisattva who is sometimes portrayed as a woman?

Guanyin

What is Prabhutartna?

Buddha of the past

What is a pagoda? 

A tiered building marking Buddhist relics, images, or an event hall.

What could pagodas have been inspired by?

Han Dynasty watchtowers, Indian stupas

What are the Six Laws of Xie He (scroll painting)

"Spirit Resonance"

"Bone Method"

"Correspondence to the Object"

"Suitability to Type"

"Division and Planning"

"Transmission by Copying"

What is the bone method?

Structural and linear stability in painting. Consistent lineweight.

How is a handscroll viewed?

Part by part: the whole scroll is not viewed at once (unless it is a hanging scroll)

What is in a handscroll?

Can be text (calligraphy), poetry, and painting.

What is a themes present in screen paintings/handrolls in the Period of Disunity?

Confuscian respect for authority

Who wrote the Six Laws?

Xie He

What is the eightfold path?

Right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi (concentration)

When was the Sui Dynasty?

581-618 CE

When was the Tang Dynasty

618-906 CE

How many citizens did Chang’an have at its largest?

About a million

What was the imperial capital of the Tang dynasty?

Chang’An

What was the most important trait in someone entering bureaucratic government?

Scholarship (knowledge of Confucian text)

How was Chang’an planned?

Planned to be 30 sq/miles, grid system. Arranged according to four cardinal points of compass, facing south.

What are other words for the supreme Buddha?

Vairocana Buddha, Cosmic Buddha, the Buddha of Boundless Space and Time?

What is the supreme Buddha?

A Buddha representing all Buddhist teachings, timeless, the essence of Buddha.