Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 10

Ceramic Figurine

   
     This is a ceramic sculpture of the Chinese zodiac symbol, the dragon. The dragon is a sign of the emperor, and is highly valued among Chinese families.
      As time went on, ceramic figures were found more and more in households and tombs. The use of green ware became increasingly popular as it was used alongside with grey ware.

Works Cited
Information and Picture: http://gaukartifact.com/2013/03/05/china-han-dynasty/

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 9

Painting

     Unfortunately, I could barely find any information on this work of art. It is dated to the Eastern Han Dynasty and is currently being housed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. This painting seems to depict the three leftmost men in deep conversation, while the figure on the far right is looking over his shoulder at something or someone. 

Works Cited

Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gentlemen_in_conversatio

n,_Eastern_Han_Dynasty.jpg 

*Go to this website for lectures on Asian art, very awesome!! 

http://ieas.berkeley.edu/publications/aparvlectures.html

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 8

Decorated Pillar

      "This pillar was used in a brick tomb to hold up the lintel of a doorway. It would have been positioned centrally with doors on either side, creating the impression of a house.
     The extraordinary kneeling figure on top was intended to ward off evil. He is oddly proportioned, but complete. His feet appear on the sides of the pillar and his hands are incised on the front. A figure of a bird in flight is stamped between his legs. Two lines of this bird emblem are arranged on each side of the pillar. On the front are two columns climbing dragons. Surrounding the lines of pictorial decoration are borders with a geometric pattern, a common feature of Han tomb architecture."

Works Cited:
Information and Picture:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/p/pilaster_from_a_tomb.aspx

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 7

Ceramic Mansion

   
     "This glazed ceramic model of a watchtower shows all the essential features of Han architecture. The basic unit is an enclosure defined by four corner piers with a widely overhanging tile roof supported by a system of cantilevered brackets. In addition, the house has a second roof over the first story, which is elevated on a stepped platform; an exterior staircase; elaborate latticework screens that shield the third story; and a circular central window on the top floor.
     A great variety of architectural models were placed in Han tombs for use in the afterlife. This imposing mansion symbolizes the high status of the person buried in the tomb. Stylistically, the date and northern Chinese provenance of this house are confirmed by a number of archaeologically excavated pieces, most notably a green-glazed model of a four-story tower discovered in an Eastern Han tomb in Gaotang County, eastern Shandong Province."
    
Works Cited
Information and Picture: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/49519?rpp=30&pg=1&ft=han+dynasty&pos=3

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 6

Board Game

     "A popular game in the Han dynasty, liubo involves two players who gamble using dice, counters, gaming pieces, and a marked board. The pottery figures exhibited in this case, together with the daily utensils, architectural models, and luxury goods exhibited in the other cases in the gallery, were used as tomb furnishings in ancient China. These figures, which capture a dramatic moment in a heated game, depict Han-dynasty people's leisure activities as well as their desired life in the other world (METMuseum)."

Works Cited
Information and Picture: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/50484?rpp=30&pg=1&ft=han+dynasty&pos=13 

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 4

Terracotta Soldier Sword

   
     17 of these swords have been discovered with the terracotta army, having a handle made out of gold and inlaid with turquoise and a blade made of iron. Besides the general, a few officials were found with swords in their hands. "Swords had the highest rank among the weapons in ancient China and were carried by well-known or high-ranking people (DiscoverChina)." The swords would have been kept in a wooden scabbard. To prevent corrosion, the Chinese plated the sword with chromium.

Works Cited
Information: "The Unique Weapons in the Terra-cotta Pits." Discover China 
     Tours. Discover China Tours, Inc., 2004-2014. Web. 18 Oct., 2014.
Picture: http://www.twincities.com/ci_21852501/eight-chinas-famous-terra-cotta-warriors-are-centerpiece

Qin and Han Dynasties: Artifact 3

Porcelain Sculpture

     "This Dehua porcelain sculpture depicts the Bodhisattva Wenshu (Manjusri), portrayed here as a youthful maiden, sitting on her vehicle, the lion.
     A granular, sugary-white body covered in a pale pink or creamy glaze characterizes the Dehua porcelain ware, which was produced in the Fujian province. Dehua ware is also known for its colorful depictions of Buddhist and secular figure subjects (Cincinnati Art Museum)."

     "There is a famous place in China which is the centre for the worship of Manjushri Bodhisattva - the Wutai Mountain in the province of Shanxi in China.
     As written in a sutra, the Buddha predicted that after He passed away in Final Nirvana, Manjushri Bodhisattva would reside on a mountain name Wuting in a country in the east called "Great China", where he would teach the dharma. Hence, Chinese people regard that mountain, now called Wutai Mountain, as a sacred place for worshipping Manjushri Bodhisattva. Many temples dedicated to Manjushri Bodhisattva have been built there (BuddhaNet)."

Works Cited
Information: Cincinnati Art Museum. "Wenshu on a Lion, Dehua Ware." Cincinnati, OH:
     Cincinnati Art Museum, 2011. Plaque.
"The Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom." Buddhist Studies: Deities and Bodhisattva. 
     BDEA/BuddhaNet, 1996-2014. Web. 17 Oct., 2014.
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wenshu_(Manjusri)_on_a_Lion,_Dehua_ware,_China,_Qing_dynasty,_19th_century,_porcelain_-_Cincinnati_Art_Museum_-_DSC03188.JPG