Our second article from our distinguished writer and published author, Scott Grant.  Scott takes us through the history of China art, bringing this fascinating culture closer to all our readers.   

Does beauty exist, even if it exists in the dark, without ever being seen, after its creator has been dead for centuries? Some of the art in the West, especially what they call progressive art, can at times be nothing more than excrement thrown at a piece of plywood and should, perhaps, be kept in the dark forever, to protect even the accidental observer. Not so Chinese art. The stuff gets discovered thousands of years after its creator has passed on and depending on how well the darkness preserved it, its beauty and delicate charm can still take your breath away.

Plato, in his pursuit of perfect truth, believed everything in the firmament to have dimensions of truth. For instance, the light reflected from a painting of a pear, no matter how perfect to the naked eye, could never be as true as a delicious and juicy pear, that you have taken a large bite of. Even that pear, which will most likely soon disappear, thanks to you! does not have the perfect life that a pear in your indelible minds eye will have and keep, perhaps forever, if you believe in re-incarnation.

Why does Chinese art have such great quality control then, compared to art that is born of more fluid interpretation? Simple. The Chinese have taken their art more seriously and have recognized, subtly, that elements with intrinsic value, or beauty, should be preserved and protected, not just in terms of physical protection, but in artistic style and refined interpretation. Chinese art represents far more than the capricious whim of an artist. There is a point during the creation of an art object, that the object paints, or sculpts itself. This tree, or swan must go exactly here, or there, or else the work is forever incomplete. Chinese art prevents horrid excursions from beauty, by over ruling an errant departure into the realm of confusion and needless risk.

Throughout its history, China has considered Calligraphy, Painting, Sculpture, Pottery, Architecture, Bronze casting and Jewelery, the primary media of cultural and artistic expression. The Democratic Communist government of China has added, owing to modernity, Photography and Cinema. Chinese art has always been influenced by its ruling classes, partly from a need to capture a particular moment of Chinese emotion, or express a political revulsion, unavailable in linguistic communication, yet the medium of choice has varied by dynasty.  For the Xia and Jin Dynasty, it was Calligraphy, for the Qin dynasty, Sculpture and Architecture, for the Xia and Song dynasty, Bronze Casting and for all dynasties, Painting and Jewelry. During the era of Maoist authority, Opera and Plays were the exclusive media of describing the ongoing revolution.

The earliest period of Chinese art is considered to be "Stone Age" art, beginning circa 4,800 years B.C. and was primarily clay pottery such as this pitcher found in Ban'Po circa 4,800 B.C. and bowl, found in Henan, China, circa 3,500 B.C.                                     

                                     

During the Shang dynasty, circa 1,766 to 1,122 B.C. Bronze and Copper art objects appeared.

 The Chou dynasty, East and West, circa 1,122 to 221 B.C.

The Qin and Han dynasties. As the Qin dynasty lasted only fifteen years, it is often merged with the Han circa 221 B.C to 206 A.D.                                                                                    

 

Scott Grant

(GingerAsia is proud to have Scott Grant as our new resident feature writer.  Scott is a successful published author, and you can find more of his work by clicking here)

 

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