ARTH

LESSON 5 - Funerary Art in China and Central Asia (Sogdians)

The two dualistic forces in ancient east asian mortuary discourses

• Hun-soul (heavenly)

• Po-soul (earthly)

Two types of Chinese tomb structures

• Vertical pit (developed earlier)

• Horizontal chamber(s)

Two important notions of Chinese tombs

• Microcosm of the universe

• Posthumous home (home for the afterlife)

Two layers of chinese tombs

• Inner Coffin (guan) – extension of body

• Outer Coffin/casket (guo) –container

Which layer of coffin of Lady Dai is this and what does it symbolize.

Outermost (1st) coffin - The guo, a container for the other coffins and world built inside.

Which layer of coffin of Lady Dai is this and what does it symbolize.

2 nd coffin of Lady Dai - Clouds representing qi (life force) and immortals and fantastic creatures to protect and bless

Which layer of coffin of Lady Dai is this and what does it symbolize.

3rd coffin - animals, immortals and Mt. Kulun (home of immortals), highlights a belief in immortality in the afterlife

Which layer of coffin of Lady Dai is this and what does it symbolize.

Innermost (4th) coffin - extension of physical body, no pictorials. patterning on top is the same as what lady dai was wrapped in

What does this area in a coffin hold and represent?

Grave goods: clothing, household articles, food

represents a “happy home” (posthumous home)

Name and Century and Important info

“Name banner” of Lady Dai, Mawangdui Tomb No.1

2nd c. BCE

Found atop the innermost (1st) coffin

Presence of Jade bi-disks throughout

Has 4 registers representing both spiritual realms and worldly ones

What are the tomb types of these?

L: Horizontal (chambered) tomb - Helped to unify the multiple layers in vertical type into an organized pictorial program. Posthumous home

R: Vertical pit - Principle of layering

Name and Century

Mawangdui Tomb No. 1

2nd c. BCE

Name, Century

Prince Liu Sheng’s tomb (aka “Mancheng” tomb)

2nd c. BCE

Material Symbolism

• Value of material beyond its usefulness as a natural medium

• Implies conscious selection of a material based on the culturally constructed value.

Name, Century, info

Jade Body of Prince Liu Sheng. From the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng’s tomb (aka “Mancheng” tomb)

2nd c. BCE

example of MATERIAL SYMBOLISM using JADE and BI-DISKS and layering using jade

Name, Century, info

White Jade Figurine, found between the inner and outer coffin of Prince Liu Sheng. Prince Liu Sheng’s tomb (aka “Mancheng” tomb)

2nd c. BCE

Metaphoric role of the jade: Transformation and preservation of the body

Syncretism

attempted union or reconciliation of diverse or opposite tenets or practices, esp. in philosophy or religion

Sogdians religious beliefs

Primarily Zoroastrian – but syncretic religious traditions (Manicheanism, Buddhism, Chinese religious traditions)

Name, century, info

Tomb of Shi Jun (Wirkak)

6th c. CE

‘patchwork’ of many religious beliefs

House-shaped sarcophagus

Name, century

Devotion in a Former Life, Panel W1, Wirkak or Shi Jun sarcophagus

6th c. CE

official imperial religion of the sassanids (persian empire)

practiced by many but mostly sogdians

Manicheanism

originated in Mesopotamia in 3 rd c. CE

synthesis of multiple religious traditions