As inkstones were very prominent in East Asia, they served a great significance to the Qing. Inkstones are also referred to as ink-slabs and ink palettes (Ko). They are known as “a collectible object, a father’s gift to his school-bound son, a token of exchange among friends, and an inscriptional surface for encomiums” (3). Dorothy …
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My Idea for the Final Project
I want to research further into the Chinese ornamental stone, jade, for my final project. My high school Mandarin teacher’s love for the gem inspired me to want to learn more about how its religious and spiritual meaning evolved. Jade is known for being very auspicious and representing good fortune as it was a common …
Traditional Chinese Buildings and the Emperor’s Palaces and Gardens
The Summer Palace and the Forbidden City are essential monuments that serve a great significance on Chinese history. The Summer Palace was originally known as Yuanmingyuan and was built in the early 18th century. Yuangmingyuan was considered an individual garden, as well as a complex of combined gardens. While the main focus of the gardens …
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Reflection on Traditional Chinese Money
Traditional Chinese money could be interpreted as both objects and ideas. The two main functions of money are “to serve in payment, and to serve in the fulfillment of an obligation, whether of a commercial, fiscal, administrative, religious or social nature.” While the “fulfillment of a payment is usually quantitative, the fulfillment of an obligation …
Money on the “Silk Roads”
Although the definition of money is left open for interpretation, the etymology of the word “money” is responsible for determining the function in which it serves. While coins are a significant form of money, “a community in which coins are available does not necessarily exclude other forms of money, nor is the coinage in such …
Reflection on the Textiles of Tang China
The beautiful textiles of Tang China are known for their artistic value and uniqueness. The raw materials in which the textiles consist of are known for differentiating the textiles into three categories in which “animal fibres include wool”, “silk [comes] from silk worms”, and “plant fibres can be culled from both domesticated and wild species …
Textiles of Tang China
The textiles of Tang China have existed over a long period of time and have created numerous pieces of work known for their beauty and decor. Aspects of the textiles that are easily discovered by the human eye consist of color, pattern, intricacy and the level of workmanship. While the textiles have different values, they …
Reflection on the Material World of Tang China
The prominent Tang empire that connected across the Eurasian world is known for its great involvement in religion and art. The capital of the dynasty consisted of numerous temples of not only the Buddhist faith, but of other faiths that were commonly practiced in Central Asia, such as Zoroastrianism and Nestorianism. While many of the …
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The Library Cave of Tang China
While the Tang period lasted from 618 until 907, it is known that the ethnic Han Chinese consisted of a majority of the population and that the dynasty’s territory spread throughout mainland China. Given that Buddhism was very prominent during this time period, the Emperor of the dynasty, Xuanzong, was known as a 7th century …
Reflection on the Tombs of Early China
As the tombs of Early China hold such a historical and artistic significance on China’s materialistic culture, it shows the extent in which the dead is respected and provided for after death. While the tombs are known for consisting of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic miniatures, as well as architectural models, the tombs were filled will items …
