(SESA2) Module Overview

South, East, and Southeast Asia II

Extermination of Evil Collage

Introduction

Connections with India, China, and Japan with the West through trade, war, and cultural exchanges, have greatly influenced the art of the West and the East. To a much greater degree than in the West, Asian art has developed in conjunction with the religions and philosophy of the time period and location. The arts of Asia became the vehicle of religious forces - Buddhism being a dominant factor. Early Chinese bronzes portray wonderful technical skill in the highly abstracted motifs. In later dynasties, carefully detailed nature scenes will be evident in the sculptures as well as paintings. Japanese art, although greatly influenced by China, will place great emphasis on native traditions and sensitivity to natural forms.  

The arts of South, East, and Southeast Asia include important forms developed in a wide range of media. Stone and wood carving was a prominent art form used in architectural construction, decoration, and sculpture. Ceramic arts have flourished in Asia since the prehistoric era, and many technical and stylistic advancements in this media, such as the use of high-fire porcelain, developed here. Metal was used to create sculpture, arms and armor, ritual vessels, and decorative objects of all kinds. Shang Dynasty bronze vessels from China employed a unique piece-molding technique that has never been successfully replicated. Important textile forms from this region include silk and wool tapestry weaving, cotton weaving, printing, painting, and carpet weaving. Painting in Asia usually took two forms: wall painting and manuscript or album painting. The painting styles that developed in India and East Asia favor contour drawing of forms over modeling. Calligraphy was an important art form in these regions. In China, calligraphy was considered the highest art form, even above painting. Calligraphy was also prominent in Islamic art in Asia, and is found on architecture, decorative arts objects, and ceramic tiles, and in manuscripts written on paper, cloth, or vellum.

South, East, and Southeast Asia have rich traditions of courtly and secular art forms that employ local subjects and styles. In India, regional painting styles developed to illustrate mythical and historical subjects, and poetic texts documented court life. In China and Japan, a new genre of literati painting developed among the educated elite. Literati paintings often reveal the nonprofessional artist's exploration of landscape subjects, which are frequently juxtaposed with poetry. The term secular is a bit misleading when describing Asian art, as religious ideas or content frequently is carried over into secular art forms (e.g., Hindu deities depicted in Ragamala painting in India or Zen Buddhist sensibilities applied to ceramic production and flower arranging in Japan). Elegant and elaborate decorative programs featuring floral and animal designs are commonly found on decorative arts from East Asia.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • Why and how does art change?
  • How do we describe our thinking about art?
  • How does religion influence art and architecture?
  • How has art been utilized to foster political beliefs?
  • Is art a reflection of its culture or a force to form or shape culture?

Key Terms

In this module, we will study the following key terms:

  1. Bodhisattva - A bodhisattva is an “enlightened being”; a person who guides others.
  2. Calligraphy - Calligraphy, in Greek, means “beautiful writing.” It is handwriting or penmanship, especially elegant writing as a decorative art.
  3. Colophon - Colophon is an inscription, usually on the last page, giving information about a book’s manufacture. In Chinese painting, written texts on attached pieces of paper or silk.
  4. Handscroll - In Asian art, a handscroll is a horizontal painted scroll that is unrolled to the left and often used to present illustrated religious texts or landscapes.
  5. Literati - In China, literati were talented amateur painters and scholars from the landed gentry.
  6. Overglaze - In porcelain decoration, the technique of applying mineral colors over the glaze after the work has been fired is known as an overglaze. The overglaze colors, or enamels, fuse to the glazed surface in a second firing at a much lower temperature than the main firing.
  7. Pagoda - A pagoda is a Chinese tower, usually associated with a Buddhist temple, having a multiplicity of winged eaves; thought to be derived from the Indian stupa.
  8. Porcelain - Porcelain is an extremely fine, hard, white ceramic. Unlike stoneware, porcelain is made from a fine white clay called kaolin mixed with ground petuntse, a type of feldspar. True porcelain is translucent and rings when struck.
  9. Underglaze - In porcelain decoration, the technique of applying of mineral colors to the surface before the main firing, followed by an application of clear glaze is known as an underglaze.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION