Non-Western Art: The Ming Dynasty
Over the course of this class, we have mostly focused on western art. However, today we are going to take a look at some art from a completely different culture and style: the Ming Dynasty of China, which lasted from the mid 1300's to the mid 1600's.
Ming dynasty art is among the most prized and sought-after Chinese work, mainly because of its elegance and quality, and because it represents an important time of revival in Chinese culture. This dynasty saw huge advances in skill and craftmanship, with artwork in all areas, including painting, ivory carving, metalwork, textiles, sculpture, pottery, and furniture. ("An Easy Guide To Ming Dynasty Art And Ming Artwork - Marchant Asian Art") Let's take a look at some of the best this time period has to offer!
This piece is simply titled, Sutra Box with Dragons Amid Clouds. It is a highly ornate box measuring H. 5 1/2 in.; W. 5 in.; L. 16 in. and was made to hold a sutra, or holy text. It was designed to be used at court, hence the rich and detailed look. Historians estimate it was made it the early 1400s. This box is overlaid with red lacquer, incised and decorated with gold. The design itself is simple and elegant, but the gold work is ornate and detailed. The level of skill displayed in this box shows true mastery of the art. ("Sutra Box With Dragons Amid Clouds")
The Ming dynasty also gave birth to some of China's greatest paintings.
This work is titled Shaded Dwellings Among Streams and Mountains, and was painted by Dong Qichang. The work is a hanging scroll of paper with ink and measures 99 x 37 inches. Dong followed in the footsteps of the old masters and strove for calligraphic expressions of landscapes. Believing that the style of the time was overly decadent and perverse, he strove to bring balance to his landscapes. His style is simple, yet elegant and shows a high level of dedication to realistic landscapes. ("Shaded Dwellings Among Streams And Mountains")
Another painting produced in the same style is Bamboo in Wind, by Xia Chang.
As you can see, the Ming Dynasty was a time of great skill and creativity, and has blessed Chinese art with many masterpieces. I would encourage the reader to keep exploring, as there is a world of beautiful Chinese art out there to discover!
References:
"An Easy Guide To Ming Dynasty Art And Ming Artwork - Marchant Asian Art". Marchant Asian Art, 2021, https://www.marchantasianart.com/guide/an-easy-guide-to-ming-dynasty-art-and-ming-artwork/.
"Sutra Box With Dragons Amid Clouds". Metmuseum.Org, 2021, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/60870.
"Bamboo In Wind". Metmuseum.Org, 2021, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44590.
"Shaded Dwellings Among Streams And Mountains". Metmuseum.Org, 2021, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/48949.
The work you have presented is indeed elegant and of great quality. The box seems so simple but I am sure it took time and patience to get the fine details on it. The paint and scroll are just as amazing as the box. The detail in the trees and mountains are truly amazing. The balance is perfect as well. Overall, this is a great blog post.
ReplyDeleteDong Qichang Painting Shaded Dwellings Among Streams and Mountainsis very beautiful. I enjoyed the art you chose for your blog it is very beautiful. The Ming Dynasty art is elegant and simple but stunning. I wonder if there is writing on all paintings? I have noticed that in a couple of paintings that I have seen in the past as well. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Faith,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about your blog. You used great pieces of art. I also find Chinese art and culture to be interesting and beautiful. Especially the dragons! Anything with a dragon is always awesome. Which is my favorite of your topic, the Sutra Box with Dragons Amid Clouds. A little off topic, but I think it’s practiced by both Chinese and Japanese cultures, is Kintsugi. “Golden Repair.” When broken pottery and utensils are repaired with gold. I really want to find myself a piece of this; I strongly think it is art and I’d love to have a small showcase in my kitchen with a golden-repaired dish. Such an awesome presentation, thank you for sharing!