History of Chinese Art Dr. Richard L. Langill History 217 Saint Martin’s College

Oracle Bones and the Chinese Writing System  Bones of large animals used to communicate with Heaven  Questions were posed on the bones for Heaven to answer. Once placed over a fire the bones would crack. Priest would interpret its meaning.  Thousands of these were discovered in burial tombs providing the earlier evidence of the Chinese written language

Oracle Bone Zhou Dynasty

Bronze Vessels Shang and Zhou dynasties  Chinese cast some of the most exquisite bronze vessels in the world  Technolgoically far superior to anything in the world  Vessels used in ceremonies and as household containers  Taotie design

Bronze hu (wine vessel) Zhou Dynasty

Jia (tripod wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 12 th C BC

Fanglei (wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 12C BC

Bronze Gu (wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 11 th C BC

Bronze bell Zhou Dynasty 5 th C BC

Bronze zun (Bear swallowing monster) Shang Dynasty 11 th C BC

Shaft-hole axe Shang Dynasty 11 th C BC

Chinese Jade  Chinese jade was highly prized from the earliest period  Jade was a symbol of longevity  It was frequently used as jewelry for rings, pendants, etc.  Jade was used in rites and rituals and often buried with high status individuals  Jade burial suits were common in Zhou and Han times. Jade squares were sewn together with gold thread to preserve the body

Bi Jade Disk Zhou Dynasty

Jade pendant Zhou Dynasty

Terra Cotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huangti Thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors, chariots and horses arranged in battle formations were found in Xian in 1974 after local peasants were digging a well and pulled up pieces of the collection These figures are believed to be an army symbolically guarding the Mausoleum of the Emperor Three separate vaults have been discovered with more than 1,000 figures representing different types of troops- archers, charioteers, cavalrymen, and generals. They are all arrayed in battle formations. The Chinese describe these as the Eights Wonder of the World

Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

Qin Terra Cotta Warriors in formation

Bronze Chariot Formation

Qin Warrior

Face of a Qin Warrior

Formation of Qin Warriors