Introduction
Anthropologists strive to understand the lives of people in various regions. Therefore, they may use various tools to understand the lives of these people. Art is one of the major tools that anthropologists use to understand the lives of people in various regions. Generally, people use art for aesthetic purposes. However, art may have also have hidden information about the culture or life of the artist.
This is because artists usually use art to express their feelings and emotions. In so doing, they usually create artworks that strive to capture their lives and surroundings. Different artists use different styles to express their ideas using their artworks. The study of ancient art may help in providing insights into the lives of people during the periods. China is one of the countries that have a distinct ancient artwork.
The color and pattern that the Chinese used in their ancient artworks was very distinct. In addition, the ancient Chinese artists ensured that their artworks had an element of elegance and simplicity. The simplicity of the artworks may help in providing insights into the lives of people during various ancient Chinese dynasties. In addition, the artworks may provide insights into the life of the royal society of the ancient Chinese dynasties.
Artists may use their artworks to express their feelings and emotions. Therefore, a study of various artworks by a certain artists may help in providing insights into the life of the artist. The study of ancient Chinese art may help in providing insights into the culture of people during the ancient Chinese dynasties. In addition, it would help in determining the social norms of people during the ancient period.
History of Chinese Art
Archaeological sources show that China started practicing art many centuries ago. The Chinese used different media to practice their painting. During the early period of China’s history, most artists used wall paintings to express their feelings and emotions. However, since very little ancient Chinese architecture has survived, the wall paintings have greatly reduced over time.
In addition, in ancient China, most artists did their paintings on screens. The screens acted as portable walls. However, very few screens have survived. During the Song dynasty, artists started painting in more portable mediums. These included the hanging scrolls and hand scrolls. These artworks were very durable. In fact, these artworks are some of the major ancient Chinese artworks that exist to date.
These paintings usually provide vital information about the customs and details of the life of people in the ancient Chinese society. Various texts from the ancient Chinese periods are usually unable to capture these details. Therefore, the study of the paintings may provide invaluable insights into the lives of people during the early periods.
During the ancient periods, most people valued the aesthetic aspect of the paintings. Paintings acted as one of the highest cultural achievements. Therefore, the study of the ancient Chinese paintings would help in determining the aesthetic values and tastes of people during the ancient periods.
During the Song dynasty, painting developed greatly. The Song dynasty was the high point of the development of China’s fine art. During this period, landscape themes started becoming a dominant form of painting.
Social Aspect of Ancient Chinese Paintings
During the Song dynasty, there was a significant expansion of the acceptable forms of paintings. Painters started using their artworks to depict the daily life of people more frequently. One may decipher more information from the paintings than from the texts from this period. The study of the paintings would help in understanding the dressing, social interaction, and trade of people during this period.
The study of the paintings from the Song dynasty shows the differences between the urban and rural life. From the paintings during this period, it is clear that trade was the major economic activity of people living in urban areas. People sold their wares in shops or open markets. A sophisticated transport network helped in the economic expansion of the urban areas.
Movement by land was one of the major methods that goods moved from one location to another. On the other hand, large-scale merchants and itinerant peddlers moved various goods via the Grand Canal. Paintings during the Song dynasty show that fortunetellers were prominent personalities in the society.
People sought fortunetellers to determine the right time to undertake various activities that were important in their lives. These included when to start a business or hold a funeral. When couples wanted to get married, they usually requested the services of fortunetellers. Fortunetellers used the characters of their names to determine whether the match was favorable.
The study of ancient Chinese art would help in determining the means of transportation that people used during the ancient periods. From various ancient Chinese artworks, it is clear that donkeys and oxen were the main beasts of burden in ancient China. During the ancient period, donkeys and oxen were the main beasts of burden that helped in the transit of goods to various locations.
People used different types of carts to transport their goods using the beasts of burden. Generally, oxen carried heavier loads than donkeys. People carried smaller goods using pole baskets. This enabled them to avoid the expenses of maintaining a beast of burden.
Sedan chairs, donkeys, and horses helped in the transportation of people. Women usually moved around using covered sedan chairs. On the other hand, officials or scholars usually rode on horsebacks. Therefore, horses were a sign of royalty. They were more expensive than other beasts of burden.
Ancient Chinese art provides insights into the street life of people during this period. From various paintings, it is clear that women were not a common feature of the street life. Women joined members of the public during holidays or various special events. Men were the dominant figures in most streets.
Most merchants or street traders were men. The huge presence of men in the streets necessitated the establishment of places where men could relax. This offered the men with a cool environment away from the hassles of the streets.
Teahouses were some of the major establishments that provided men with a place to relax. Teahouses were a place where friends could gather as they take refreshments. In addition, they provided people with entertainment. This helped to relax the nerves of people after a busy day.
During the Song dynasty, domestic life started becoming a common feature of most paintings. Women and children were the major specialty of most artists who depicted domestic life in their paintings. Artist from this period usually used artistic effects to depict the personality or class of an individual. The artists used clothing to portray the social status of people in the society.
In addition, artists used paintings to depict the social interaction of people during this period. Paintings of children were some of the most popular paintings during this period. People considered paintings of children as an appropriate theme for New Year’s pictures.
Throughout the history of China, there is very little information on the lives, habits, and appearance of various women. However, during the Song and Yuan dynasties various artists depicted women in various social functions. Therefore, these pictures may provide insights into the lives of women during this period. Most paintings did not depict women in close proximity to men.
Women could only interact with men in very few social functions. Most artists did not depict women from lower social classes (Huang and Zürcher 239). In addition, they restricted the views of people from lower social classes. This is a clear example of the social segregation that was present in ancient China.
Funerary art was one of the major forms of art in ancient China. Tomb murals were very common. Artists usually used the funerary art to idealize various subjects. In addition, the artists used funerary art to express their views on various issues facing the society. These included materialism, royalty, and honesty.
A study of the paintings of a certain artist may provide insights into the life of the artist. Usually when artists were in a sad period of their lives, they painted paintings that depicted the sad situations.
On the other hand, when they were joyous, they painted paintings that depicted the joy in their lives. Use of poetry in the paintings enabled the artists to express their views more clearly (Elkins 80). Supporting positive behaviors enabled the artists to help in improving the welfare of the society.
Painting as Fine Art
During the Song dynasty, landscape painting started becoming popular among various artists. Mountains were the major feature of most landscape paintings. This is because the Chinese considered mountains as sacred features. According to the Chinese, mountains were the homes of the immortals. This is because they were very close to the heavens.
Landscape paintings provided people with a view that was different from their urban or official life. In addition, landscape paintings depicted various types of trees that existed during the period. Most landscape paintings did not give more emphasis to life in the paintings.
In addition, there was very little emphasis on the manmade structures in the landscape paintings. Landscape paintings that depicted various manmade structures strived to show how the manmade structures fit with their natural surroundings.
Most artists who painted landscape paintings were court painters. Scholars accounted for the largest percentage of the court painters. These painters included poems in their paintings. The poems helped in providing information about the paintings. This enabled the artists to express their ideas more clearly. Landscape painting is the major form of painting that incorporates poems.
Various artists used the poems in the paintings to provide moral teachings to the society. The poems helped in reinforcing various positive behaviors. Therefore, a study of the paintings from this period may show the norms of the society. In addition, it may show the beliefs of people during this period.
Confucianism is the major factor that affected the behaviors of people in ancient China. Therefore, the study of the paintings may provide insights into the beliefs of Confucianism during this period.
Rulers in various ancient Chinese dynasties valued paintings. These rulers sponsored various paintings. In addition, they commissioned paintings in various locations. Court artists created various decorative patterns in palaces. This helped in improving the appearance of the palaces. The paintings depicted the grandeur of the palaces. In addition, certain paintings depicted the leadership style of the rulers.
Various rulers ensured that court painters possessed exemplary painting skills. Therefore, they ensured that painters received training. Training enabled the artists to improve the technical finesse of their artworks.
In addition, it enabled them to use different styles to improve the quality of their paintings (Ebrey 165). Court painters had tests and ranks. Copying old masterpieces enabled court painters to improve their painting skills. In addition, it enabled them to preserve the old masterpieces.
Conclusion
A study of ancient Chinese paintings may provide insights into the culture of the people during this period. According to ancient Chinese paintings, donkeys and oxen were the main beasts of burden. In ancient China, women appeared in public on very few occasions. Men crowded the streets of various urban centers. Ancient Chinese paintings also had an aesthetic value. Various ancient rulers commissioned paintings in their palaces.
The paintings helped in improving the physical appearance of the palaces. Incorporation of poetry into paintings enabled artists to express their views clearly. Artists used poetry to reinforce various positive behaviors. The study of ancient Chinese paintings may help in providing insights into the social norms of people during this period.
Works Cited
Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Cambridge illustrated history of China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print.
Elkins, James. Chinese landscape painting as Western art history. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2010. Print.
Huang, Junjie and Erik Zürcher. Time and space in Chinese culture. Danvers, MA: BRILL, 1995. Print.