Chinese art of the Ch'ing peri
From the earliest awakenings of Chinese civilization, the Chinese have sought out what they believe to be spiritual perfection. This numinous sense of flawlessness existed within the people themselves, in nature, and between the two as well. Art has always been a common means for the Chinese to achieve such inner tranquility and peace. In their art, they stressed the dignified qualities of serenity, grace, and balance. They avoided confusion, conflict, and all violent emotions no matter what the price. Unsettling or revolutionary forms of experimental art were not welcome even to this day. On the other hand, expressing nobility and inner-worth was considered a necessity. It has been rightfully stated that Chinese art is not just a hobby. It is ultimately "a way of being" . To appreciate the significance of art fully, we must keep in mind a commandment of Confucius: "Raise yourself to the beautiful." The Ch'ing period, also referred to as the "Manchu" period was an extremely active one for the arts. It was an age of research, preservation of ancient texts, and the collecting of bronzes and paintings. There was no great change in the manner of painting after the fall of the Ming. A variety of styles for painters to fol
In addition to its esthetic value, Chinese sculpture served multiple functions. An example of one such sculpture is the "Dog of Fo," a mythical animal which was sculpted in pairs as guardians for use either at the gate of a Buddhist temple, or on each side of a statue of Buddha. The "Dog of Fo" was part of the famille verte and very popular among traders. However its traditional meaning became lost when traded with Europeans and Americans. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, most artists followed the examples of Tung Ch'i-ch'ang. He believed in not just reproducing nature's outer appearance, but expressing his own inner feelings on the subject at hand. The Ch'ing painters studied the old masters, as Tung Ch'i-ch'ang suggested to them, in order to discover their technical secrets. Later they learned to use these outward techniques to perfect their ability to express their inner emotion. Many achieved this and passed Tung's ideas onto younger artists. Other painters refused to be bound to the past and struck out in their own directions. New, more effective styles came into play, but the traditional methods of painting were still used by some. low already existed. Many painters varied their own personal style by combining those styles which preceded them. However, the most renowned Ch'ing painters relied on their own ingenuity to create styles that even t
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Approximate Word count = 929
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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