1. Dr. Richard L. Langill History 217 Saint Martin’s College
History of Chinese Art
Dr. Richard L. Langill
History 217
Saint Martin’s College

2. Oracle Bones and the Chinese Writing System
Bones of large animals used to communicate with Heaven
Questions were posed on the bones for Heaven to answer. Once placed over a fire the bones would crack. Priest would interpret its meaning.
Thousands of these were discovered in burial tombs providing the earlier evidence of the Chinese written language

3. Oracle Bone Zhou Dynasty

4. Oracle Bone Zhou Dynasty

6. Bronze Vessels Shang and Zhou dynasties
Chinese cast some of the most exquisite bronze vessels in the world
Technolgoically far superior to anything in the world
Vessels used in ceremonies and as household containers
Taotie design

8. Bronze hu (wine vessel) Zhou Dynasty

9. Jia (tripod wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 12th C BC

10. Fanglei (wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 12C BC

11. Bronze Gu (wine vessel) Shang Dynasty 11th C BC

12. Bronze bell Zhou Dynasty 5th C BC

13. Bronze bell Zhou Dynasty 5th C BC

14. Bronze zun (Bear swallowing monster) Shang Dynasty 11th C BC

15. Shaft-hole axe Shang Dynasty 11th C BC

16. Chinese Jade Chinese jade was highly prized from the earliest period
Jade was a symbol of longevity
It was frequently used as jewelry for rings, pendants, etc.
Jade was used in rites and rituals and often buried with high status individuals
Jade burial suits were common in Zhou and Han times. Jade squares were sewn together with gold thread to preserve the body

17. Bi Jade Disk Zhou Dynasty

18. Bi Jade Disk Zhou Dynasty

19. Jade pendant Zhou Dynasty

20. Terra Cotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huangti
Thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors, chariots and horses arranged in battle formations were found in Xian in 1974 after local peasants were digging a well and pulled up pieces of the collection
These figures are believed to be an army symbolically guarding the Mausoleum of the Emperor
Three separate vaults have been discovered with more than 1,000 figures representing different types of troops- archers, charioteers, cavalrymen, and generals. They are all arrayed in battle formations.
The Chinese describe these as the Eights Wonder of the World

21. Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

22. Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

23. Qin Terra Cotta Warriors in formation

24. Bronze Chariot Formation

25. Qin Warrior

26. Face of a Qin Warrior

27. Formation of Qin Warriors