THE ART OF CHINA - Art History with Ivy Dally -...
Transcript of THE ART OF CHINA - Art History with Ivy Dally -...
THE ART OF CHINA
Lecture 3B: The Tomb of Emperor Qin
Art of the Han Dynasty
THE IMPERIAL PERIOD BEGINS…
• The Chinese empire established by Qin after a period of Civil War in 221 BCE.
• Absolute rule. Loyalty or death! Maintained power in part thru burning books, outlawing Confucian ideals of government, and expanding the Great Wall.
The Great Wall of China…is actually several walls. Today’s walls
are built on the original walls from Qin’s time.
THE TOMB OF QIN
• Discovered in the 1970’s by peasants.
• Took 38 years to create.
– 20 square miles
– 249 foot tall mound
• Underground city has army barracks with over 8000 terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots, bronzes, silk, jade, weapons. The soldier’s face east, ready to battle.
• In 2012 remains of a palace complex were discovered.
• The Emperor’s tomb has not yet been excavated.
• Myths surrounding the tomb say Qin is buried amongst rivers of mercury, a sky with pearl stars, and perhaps a pit of concubines.
THE HAN DYNASTY
• Western Han: 206 BCE-9 CE.
• Eastern Han: 25-220 CE.
• In 206 BCE a peasant was named emperor and the Han dynasty was established.
• Re-established Confucian and Daoist principles in China.
• Poetry, literature, the arts, and science flourished.
Female Dancer, Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–9 A.D.), 2nd century B.C.
THE BOSHAN LU INCENSE BURNER: CULT OF THE SACRED MOUNTAINS
• Daoists believe heaven and earth meet at the tops of mountains.
• Designed so the smoke would rise out of vessel and appear like clouds.
• Ash analysis reveals that thatch grass, magnolia, and cannabis were some of the substances burned.
Mountain-Shaped Incense Burner at the
Art Institute of Chicago.
Bronze incense burner inlaid with gold,
accidentally discovered in 1968 at Man
Ch'eng County, Hebei (Hopei) Province,
from the tomb of the Han prince,Liu
Sheng (died 113 B.C.).
“I value this perfect utensil, lofty
and steep as a mountain…It
contains rare perfumes, red flames
and green smoke; densely
ornamented are its side, and its
summit joins azure heaven. A
myraid animals are depicted on it.
Ah, from its sides I can see even
fruther than Li Lou (who had
legendary eyesight).
~ Liu Xiang, Han Dynasty scholar.
LADY DAI: CHINA’S SLEEPING BEAUTY
• Tomb excavated in the 1970s with help of local high school students.
• Mummy of Lady Dai well preserved in a multilayered coffin and silks so part of her po (soul) could stay with her body.
• Flying banner illustrates the re-emergence of Daoist belief.
Lady’s Dai’s Coffin’s as
uncovered (left) and
restored (below).
Lai Dai’s Flying Banner, Painted
silk from the tomb of Dai Hou Fu-
ren, ca. 168 BCE.
Lai Dai’s Flying Banner, Painted
silk from the tomb of Dai Hou Fu-
ren, ca. 168 BCE.
AFTER LECTURE 3B YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO…
• Explain the features of Emperor Qin’s rule and how
his ideas are reflected in his tomb.
• Identify how Daoist beliefs are made visible in the
arts of the Han, and the Boshan-Lu incense burners
and the grave goods of Lady Dai in particular.
• Discuss the iconography and form of Lady Dai’s Flying
Banner.