China It is one of the oldest civilizations that have maintained a cultural continuity and political cohesion throughout its history, thanks in part to its geography location that is unique, located at the end of the Asian continent in front of the Pacific Ocean which allowed them to maintain their strong culture by millennia, also credit to their way of life, which was very intimate, they remained as far as possible from the influences of the outside world by millennia.
Although some of the invaders throughout China’s history could have diluted their way of life and idiosyncrasy by strength or absorption, this did not happen because the Chinese decided to follow their traditions and beliefs firmly and continued their devotion to nature and their ancestors, even when dissimilar religions were welcomed at different times.
The Chinese people preferred a self -sufficient economy where traditional customs and knowledge about artisanal trades went from generation to generation among families members. His art productions were a direct reflection of his philosophy about life and his love for nature, with which they tried to always be in harmony and the one they respected and venerated. With the beginning of the modern era in the 16th century, the effects of a wave of important changes that were happening worldwide brought new challenges for China, added to the country’s internal problems, but this article was concentrated only in the art of this immense country in ancient times.
Until the period of the combatant states (475-221 AC), the artistic representations were produced by anonymous artisans who worked for royalty and the feudal courts. It is thought that during the Shang period and the early period Zhou the production of bronze vessels with ritual purposes was regulated exclusively under the authority of the court in which design patterns were shared among the specialists who worked in the different artistic media such as bronzes, lacquer works or textiles, being significantly uniform in their artistic expression.
Chinese culture from antiquity promotes and highlights a way of life social In their communities instead of giving more importance to the individual life of human beings, but underlines the importance of relations between members of a family or between the individual subject and their king or emperor according to the historical stage. In their efforts to face the challenges of daily life as a society they get their greatest strength using the gifts of nature and working hard.
Among the typical themes of traditional Chinese art are no allegories to wars, violence, nudism, death or martyrs. They were not painted dead naturalness as an artistic expression that were not immersed in a context that gave meaning to the message. His art is symbolic, everything that is artistically represented by aspects of a totality of which the artist is aware. This society was more prone to secularism and respect for nature than to the devotion of omnipotent gods, as if it was the tendency in Western civilizations.
Recently ruins have been discovered containing remains of lost civilizations in other regions of the world that have been dated by archaeologists and anthropologists as corresponding to much older times than until now had been pointed out. These studies suggest that in the Neolithic period there were already other developing civilizations that may have preceded Chinese civilization, and for unknown reasons as natural cataclysms or some other forces were destroyed.
The beginnings of the history of Chinese civilization so far were in the Valley of the Yellow River of China; between approximately 5,000 to 4,000 B in the “early Neolithic.” New archaeological findings in Sanxingduia small village approximately 20 miles northeast of Chengdu in the province of Sichuan have exposed objects that date around 1200 AC 1200
Two sacrificial graves were found there and in them buried and hidden there were hundreds of foreign objects never before encountered with an age of more than 3,000 years. This civilization in Sanxingdui apparently developed in parallel to those that were developed in the yellow river, if these objects have not been found by chance, it would probably never have known each other of its existence. It is not ruled out that remains of civilizations may appear in China that even preceded those mentioned.
Among the remains found were gold objects, imposing human heads made in bronze, bronze masks with unusual shapes, as well as some stone and jade instruments, which show how from early these men already have certain skills that allow them to represent the elements that make up their daily lives such as viniculture, hunting and fishing.
Aspects of social coexistence are observed in whose themes banquets and acrobatic shows are represented, as well as its incipient universe of mythology and religion. At present, the Chinese people are learning much more about their own culture thanks to multidisciplinary studies that are being carried out in this vast Asian region.
Agricultural villages in the Yellow River Valley domesticated animals, made pots for the storage of grains and liquids and also elaborated bronze vessels and effective weapons. Similarly, the people who settled in homes throughout other rivers such as Huai and Yangtzé developed their lives. The artistic objects found from this former Chinese civilization of approximately 4,000 AC placed them as one of the most skilled cultures in the creation of practical and beautiful objects.
Early Chinese history is traditionally divided into three dynasties:
-HSIA OR XIA (2205-1766 AC).
-Shang (1766-1050 AC).
-Chou (1050-256 ac).
As mentioned before Chinese culture since antiquity has always been very closely identified with nature, in which rivers and mountains occupy the center of their attention. Nature was widely represented in its paintings and ceramic ornaments, even the buildings were made with shapes that resemble those of the mountains.
These buildings focus on practical use not on their decoration. The Chinese architect and the artisans since ancient times fuse the buildings with their environment to integrate them perfectly balanced with nature. The Chinese wall a recognized architectural wonder, made to protect the country along miles and miles, was performed at the top of the mountains taking advantage of the natural geography of the protuberant elevations of the land.
They made gardens with peaceful and simple designs with the intention of representing an ideal microcosm where water, plants, flowers and animals were perfectly combined. With this representation of natural elements, the Chinese people wanted to obtain a balanced integration between man and nature.
During the Buddhist and Taoist period, this respect, veneration and protection of nature reach its peak and can be perceived very well in their art representations in the caves, sanctuaries and decorations of objects of everyday life that are still preserved.
Mainly the themes of their artistic expressions, including stories and poems, revolved around nature, rivers, mountains and valleys where mythological beings with super powers influenced their life. It is known that in the Shang dynasty, they believed in the existence of a kind and almighty dragon, which they lived in the seas and rivers and could rise to the heavens. They did not directly adore the gods in ancient times; They asked for justice and favors through their ancestors.
Legends and stories; counted at night in conversations around the fires, they must have helped the stimulus of the cultural and social evolution of these first human beings, who poured their imagination in the decoration of objects such as: ceramics, paintings and weapons. This imagination was later reflected in his Scriptures thanks to which his important historical legends and facts have arrived.
Importance of Chinese calligraphy in their works of art.
In early times, Chinese paintings were made using many colors and artistically located in them was their calligraphy, once it was invented, to the point that throughout its history, in some stages it prevails over the images represented.
Chinese calligraphy increases the level of its artistic decorations and was perfectly integrated in its pictorial representations, in the rebound of bronze vessel practices, as well as in the weapons handle, in its beautiful lacquered wood objects, in its colorful textiles of exquisite beauty and even in decorative wood elements that were part of its buildings.
The calligraphy; form of artistic expression and communication considered an art, which they gave so much importance, has helped the best understanding of their plastic works and to know the historical and economic framework in which they were created. Expressions and skills in the practice of calligraphy and painting helped establish status in the society of the most cultured individuals from the Song dynasty (960-1279).
The calligraphy was represented in the decorations since they were only pictograms, until they become ideoograms that artistically represent ideas in their symbols. The calligraphy was unified by imperial decree throughout China by the first Emperor Ying Zheng, so; Even when they spoke different dialects in the country, they could be understood each other thanks to this writing of symbols.
Ying Zheng imposed throughout the country the use of the Zhuanshu style as a standard writing system, thus laying the basis for the further evolution of Chinese characters. Calligraphy has also led to the development of many forms of art in China, including carved seals, adorned pisapapeles, flags or banners and wedges made of stone. Made with a practical function but taking into account the decoration so that they were also aesthetically attractive.
Its representation of nature although very detailed and colorful in early periods; As mentioned above, change dramatically on the way to become a paint style made with two tones of colors and different nuances, although they continue to have high attention to detail. This change is related to the creation of the School of Painting by the artist and patron, Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty in the twelfth century, which promotes Taoism during his mandate. The style of Chinese painting is this period is not based on real scenes, it is more an idyllic, imaginary and gentle representation, but very detailed where the human figure is not …