Rare colour in medieval China: case study of yellow pigments on tomb mural paintings at Xi’an, the capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty

Archaeometry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Guo ◽  
J. Feng ◽  
R. L. Liu ◽  
Y. Xia ◽  
Q. L. Fu ◽  
...  

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Anna Sokolova

This article explores regional Buddhist monasteries in Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) China, including their arrangement, functions, and sources for their study. Specifically, as a case study, it considers the reconstruction of the Kaiyuan monastery 開元寺 in Sizhou 泗州 (present-day Jiangsu Province) with reference to the works of three prominent state officials and scholars: Bai Juyi 白居易 (772–846), Li Ao 李翱 (772–841), and Han Yu 韓愈 (768–824). The writings of these literati allow us to trace the various phases of the monastery’s reconstruction, fundraising activities, and the network of individuals who participated in the project. We learn that the rebuilt multi-compound complex not only provided living areas for masses of pilgrims, traders, and workers but also functioned as a barrier that protected the populations of Sizhou and neighboring prefectures from flooding. Moreover, when viewed from a broader perspective, the renovation of the Kaiyuan monastery demonstrates that Buddhist construction projects played a pivotal role in the social and economic development of Tang China’s major metropolises as well as its regions.



2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172
Author(s):  
Tawipas Pichaichanarong

ABSTRACTThai mural paintings have played a significant role in Thai society since The Sukhothai Kingdom period (1238-1438 AD) until the present. Wattana Boonjub (2009) points out that Mural painting was used for teaching the Thai people in the past. Throughout history, temples have become a crucial part of Thai' lives; for example, Wat Phumin in Nan Province. Wat Phumin has exceptional architecture, beautiful visual presentations of Buddhist storytelling on the walls which depict scenes from the Buddhist Jataka tales, and scenes of everyday life in Nan. These unique characteristics have attracted many visitors to this temple over the years. Also, when those interested visit Wat Phumin, they experience this temple as a Museum. Loïc Tallon et al. (2008) suggests that the museum experience provides an appropriate situation for learning history in an unconventional setting. As a result, previous research titled “Visual Research Practices on Thai Lanna Mural Painting: A Case Study of Wat Phumin, Nan Province” was presented at The 4th International Conference for Asia Pacific Arts Studies (ICAPAS 2016). The results indicated that the information concerning the Lanna mural paintings inside the temples was overwhelming. However, no directions are facilitating Thai and foreign visitors in viewing and understanding at the first episode of storytelling on Lanna mural paintings inside Wat Phumin. Therefore, this research is the result of finding a solution to facilitating visitors in viewing Buddhist Jataka tales through digital arts and digital technology (such as responsive web design, QR codes, etc.) with practice-based design research. ABSTRAK Lukisan mural Thailand telah memainkan peran penting dalam masyarakat Thailand sejak periode Kerajaan Sukhothai (1238-1438 M) hingga saat ini. Wattana Boonjub (2009) menunjukkan bahwa lukisan Mural digunakan untuk mengajar orang-orang Thailand di masa lalu. Sepanjang sejarah, kuil telah menjadi bagian penting dari kehidupan Thailand; misalnya, Wat Phumin di Provinsi Nan. Wat Phumin memiliki arsitektur yang luar biasa, presentasi visual yang indah dari cerita Buddha di dinding yang menggambarkan adegan dari kisah Buddha Jataka, dan adegan kehidupan sehari-hari di Nan. Karakteristik unik ini telah menarik banyak pengunjung ke kuil ini selama bertahun-tahun. Juga, ketika mereka yang tertarik mengunjungi Wat Phumin, mereka merasakan candi ini sebagai Museum. Loïc Tallon et al. (2008) menunjukkan bahwa pengalaman museum memberikan situasi yang tepat untuk belajar sejarah dalam lingkungan yang tidak konvensional. Sebagai hasilnya, penelitian sebelumnya yang berjudul “Praktik Penelitian Visual pada Lukisan Mural Lanna Thailand: Studi Kasus Wat Phumin, Provinsi Nan” dipresentasikan pada Konferensi Internasional ke-4 untuk Studi Seni Asia Pasifik (ICAPAS 2016). Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa informasi mengenai lukisan mural Lanna di dalam kuil sangat banyak. Namun, tidak ada arahan yang memfasilitasi pengunjung Thailand dan wisatawan asing dalam melihat dan memahami episode pertama pada cerita tentang lukisan mural Lanna di dalam Wat Phumin. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini adalah hasil dari menemukan solusi untuk memfasilitasi pengunjung dalam melihat cerita Buddha Jataka melalui seni digital dan teknologi digital (seperti desain web responsif, kode QR, dll.) dengan penelitian desain berbasis praktik.



Author(s):  
Ning Gao ◽  
Feng Wang

<p>Tang poetry is the precious cultural heritages of the Chinese. Li Bai is one of the most outstanding poets in the Tang Dynasty and his poems have had a far-reaching impact on following generations. This paper attempts to use the “Har<em>mony-Guided Three-Level Poetry Translation Criteria</em>” put forward by Dr. Wang Feng, from the macro, middle and micro levels to analyze and compare four English versions of Li Bai’s “<em>Climbing the Phoenix Terrace in Jinling</em>”. Then, the authors retranslate the original poem and encourage researchers to pay more attention to the field of Tang poetry translation and promote the dissemination of Chinese classical poetry.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0666/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>



2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Ming

The importance of cultural exchange along the Silk Routes to the cosmopolitan identity of High Tang culture has long been acknowledged. This paper develops that understanding for the medical context by examining the Haiyao bencao 海瑶本草 (Overseas Pharmacopoeia), a specialist materia medica work made up of foreign remedies. With a deeper understanding of the sociocultural and religious context within which its author, Li Xun 李恂), a Persian born in China, worked we can begin to build a vivid picture of the background against which foreign medicines arrived from the Western regions to Medieval China.



Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1773-1785
Author(s):  
Manuel V. Castilla

This paper presents a contextual use of the innovative drawing techniques that involved architecture and painting in the Qing court during the first half of the eighteenth century. At this point architectural linear perspective in painting (quadratura) and stage design had become common fields of experimentation for the Chinese and Jesuit artists missionaries. In this conceptual context, Western quadratura was developed in China by Giovanni Gherardini. (1655–1729), and especially by Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), who is remembered as an extraordinarily versatile architect–painter. The focus of this paper is on the “illusory mural paintings of architectural perspective in Nantang Church” (Beijing), which has now disappeared, and which spread the influence of the Western Renaissance. The imported Western linear perspective and the fundamentals of architectural drawing facilitated the systematization and dissemination of the quadratura as an unknown technique in China. Based on the text described by the contemporary scholar Yao Yuan Zhi, an original interpretation of the architectural perspective mural paintings in Nantang Church is proposed. These paintings provide an important case study of Sino-European collaboration in the eighteenth century from different points of view: the representation of the light in drawings and the fact that the concept of shadow in some respects was unknown to the Chinese artist.



2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 01-11
Author(s):  
Tawipas Pichaichanarong ◽  
Veerawat Sirivesmas ◽  
Rueanglada Punyalikhit

Temples have been important in Thai society for over 700 years. When the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238 -1438 AD) was the capital city of Thailand. The great King Ramkamhang had been accepted Theravada Buddhism to be the strongest religion in the land. Later Lanna kingdom (1296 - 1558 AD) was founded in the mid-13th century by King Mangrai. Indeed, King Ramkamhang was friends with King Mangrai, and King Ngam Muang of Phayao Kingdom (1094–1338 AD), it is possible Theravada Buddhism had been introduced to the kingdoms during the reigns of these three Kings. Indeed, the Lanna Kingdom has accepted Theravada Buddhism to be their religion. Until 1894, Lanna Kingdom combined with Siam Kingdom which is the Rattanakosin period (1782 AD - present). Throughout history, temples have become an essential part of Lanna and Thais’ lives. At present, some Thai Lanna temples are not only functions for performing religious rites, but also, they become central for Lanna and Thai communities. Temple (“Wat” in Thai) is a sacred architecture. Moreover, there are ideas to decorate inside temples with arts. Wattana Boonjub (2009) points out that Mural painting is used to teach (Lanna and) Thai people in the past. For example, Wat Phumin, Nan province. With beautiful Lanna architecture and exquisite Lanna mural paintings, these are intangible heritages. These unique characteristics have invited lots of people to visit this temple for years. Therefore, Wat Phumin became a tourist attraction that creates revenue for its community. Johan Galtung (1980) gave the definition for “Self-Reliance”, is the strategy for development to be financial independence. With collaboration from the community, it becomes a sustainable community. For Methodology, quantitative and qualitative methods were used by collecting the data from tourists who have been visited Wat Phumin, Nan province. The data then were analyzed using mean, descriptive statistics, and qualitative data. This study concludes that Wat Phumin, Nan province has created a sustainable community for its community.



Author(s):  
Mei-Yin Lee ◽  
Kung-Yu Liu ◽  
Sih-Jie Guan ◽  
Jei-Fu Ho


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