EAST 350 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Shang Dynasty, Funerary Art, Zhou Dynasty
15 May 2018
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Readings
Wu hung, from temple to tomb
· Ritual bronze vessels from Shang and Zhou dynasties
· Bronze vessel art influenced funerary art in han China
· Shift from temple to tomb is most important turning point from eastern zhou to han
Temple
· More important than the town itself
· Seperatin of inner and outer
· Feeling of secrecy
· Bronze vessels in shrine
· Landmark to the deceased
· Sacrifices here are for the deities of the country/kingdom not associated with death and soorw
(like the tomb)
Tombs
· Became important at the end of the E Zhou
· Estate system was established to regulate funerary design
· Height of tomb mound= rank of the deceased
· Art imitated actual things
· Army duplicated to protect deceased emperors
· Funerary park with empeors forbidden city that mirrored his empire
· First emperor as origin
· Han dynasty reinforced political and ritual significance of imperial mausoleums
· Imperial temple of Western Ha, didn’t signify genealogy and political transition of the royal house
· At this time, the tomb became the centre of worship
Wu hug, introduction
Yellow spring
· Nourish life and inspire fear
· Final destination of all mortal beings
· Place of ambivalence; reunited with friends and enemies
· The tomb is the underground hole beside yellow spring
Shallow pit with the deceased body is for someone of little importance
· The tomb or grave is for someone important because of symbolic meaning
Traditional chinese tomb
· One part above ground= more ritual
· One part underground= conceals the body, more lavish and decorated
· Discontinuity between the two spaces
· Purpose of the tomb= to conceal the body from human eyes, concept of cang
Prep of the tomb
· Body is deceased
· Ritual performance
· Offerings made
· Paraphernalia displayed
Case study: Fu Haos tomb
· Shang dynasty
· Henan
· Quality and quantity of objects found was alarming to arch
· Symbolic and naturalistic images representing real and mystical things
· Reconstruction of the temporal process is the transformation of the deceased into an ancestral
deity
· Spatial context, to dine social relations, religious beliefs etc.
· Arch and objects in tomb are important
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Document Summary
Ritual bronze vessels from shang and zhou dynasties. Bronze vessel art influenced funerary art in han china. Shift from temple to tomb is most important turning point from eastern zhou to han. Sacrifices here are for the deities of the country/kingdom not associated with death and soorw (like the tomb) Became important at the end of the e zhou. Estate system was established to regulate funerary design. Height of tomb mound= rank of the deceased. Funerary park with empeors forbidden city that mirrored his empire. Han dynasty reinforced political and ritual significance of imperial mausoleums. Imperial temple of western ha, didn"t signify genealogy and political transition of the royal house. At this time, the tomb became the centre of worship. Place of ambivalence; reunited with friends and enemies. The tomb is the underground hole beside yellow spring. Shallow pit with the deceased body is for someone of little importance.
