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Art in China Study Guide Early Chinese Tombs

20 important questions on Art in China Study Guide Early Chinese Tombs

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Mask
1200-1050 BCE
Sanxingdui pit No.2

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Bronze standing figure
1200 BCE
Sanxingdui pit No.2

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Jade Cong-tube
Liangzhu culture
c. 3000-2500 BCE
Fanshan, Zhejiang province

Name of the site; date—century, and location

from a Jade cong-tube
Liangzhu culture
c. 3000-2500 BCE
Fanshan, Liangzu, Zhejiang province

Which culture is famous for making a cong jade? What is its shape like?

De Liangzhu Culture (c. 3300-2250 BCE). Cong jade is a jade tube

When did writing begin to emerge in ancient China (which dynasty)? What were the function of oracle bones, and what were they made of?

Shang dynasty (c. 1200 BCE). The oracle bones were made of big flat bones from large animals (ox shoulder blades) or the shells of turtles. The function of oracle bones was to communicate with the gods and ancestors, by (sometimes) writing down the questions, drilling holes in them and applying a hot poke until it cracks, wrote down the answers on them.

What were bronze vessels made of? What were the two bronze-casting techniques in early China?

Bronze was made from copper, led, and tin.
Technique 1: Piece-mould casting: reusable molds, fine surface decoration can be carved into mould before casting, best for repetitive shapes (ritual vessels)
model formed (usually clay), mold formed around model, mold pieces removed, dried and reassembled, molten bronze poured into cavity
Technique 2: Lost wax casting: one time use mold, ability to create more intricate detail, best for unique items statues, figurative works
Detailed wax model (model often cut into pieces), coated in clay/plaster, heated melting the wax, molten bronze poured in cavity.

What technique of mould casting was used?

Piece-mould casting

What technique of mould casting was used?

Lost wax casting

What technique of mould casting was used?

Lost wax casting

What was the purpose of figurines in a tomb?

The purpose of the figures, to accompany the emperor/person in the afterlife, representing an army or servents. The more lifelike the better they fulfilled their role in guarding their master in the netherworld.

Tomb occupant, size, time period

Terra-cotta figure of a high ranking officer
First Emperor of China
Qin dynasty 210BCE
height: 192cm

Tomb occupant, size, time period

Clay statues
Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (r. 157-141 BCE)
Eastern Han dynasty
Height: 50cm

What is the function of the following pieces? What is their shape supposed to resemble?

Incense burners, a miniature model of a mountain, the right one on a bamboo bole shaped shaft. This is not a real mountain but represents a paradise where the owners’ soul might dwell after death, in the company of magical beasts and immortals.

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Jade figurine
tomb of Lady Hao (Henan province)
Shang dynasty
c. 1200 BCE.

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Painted silk banner
From Tomb 1 (tomb of Lady Dai)
after 168 BCE
Colour on silk.

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Lady Dai’s outer coffin
Mawangdui
Han Dynasty
after 168 BCE
lacquered wood

Time period--century, medium if known

Bronze axe bearing Fu Hao's name
c. 1200 BCE
Henan

Time period--century, medium if known

Man-in-tiger-mouth you (wine vessel)
Shang Dynasty
c. 1300-1050 BCE
bronze

Time period--century, medium if known

Zun (wine vessel)
Shang Dynasty
c. 1300-1050 BCE
Anhui Province
Bronze

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Literatuur en Kunst

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Art in China Study Guide Early Chinese Tombs

20 important questions on Art in China Study Guide Early Chinese Tombs

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Name of the site; date—century, and location

Which culture is famous for making a cong jade? What is its shape like?

When did writing begin to emerge in ancient China (which dynasty)? What were the function of oracle bones, and what were they made of?

What were bronze vessels made of? What were the two bronze-casting techniques in early China?

What technique of mould casting was used?

What technique of mould casting was used?

What technique of mould casting was used?

What was the purpose of figurines in a tomb?

Tomb occupant, size, time period

Tomb occupant, size, time period

What is the function of the following pieces? What is their shape supposed to resemble?

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Time period--century, provenance—where they were found, medium if known

Time period--century, medium if known

Time period--century, medium if known

Time period--century, medium if known

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