3- In the art of the Han, representations of virtuous figures from the past were often intended to show the correct social code for behavior and set examples to the society. For example the carvings of virtuous women and filial piety on the walls of the Wu Liang Shrine all show virtuous characters who behave in an exemplary ways. The women in the pictures are chaste, obedient to their husbands, self-sacrificing and wise; they have the qualities which the Confucian society favors. Therefore they are intended to show the society how to behave. These figures are representations of social codes rather than personalized portraitures whose main purpose is to depict a person’s features. We can understand this from the lack of details and individualism in the pictures. The lacquer paintings decorating the famous basket of Lolang also illustrate figures which embody the virtue of filial piety...
Chinese religion, nr5
April 3rd, 2009Chinese religion, nr4
April 3rd, 20092- (b) Module systems are excellent ways to create objects of great variety in large quantities. In module systems, there are several kinds of modules which serve as the building blocks of objects. These modules are then combined in various possible combinations to make up objects. I think the terra-cotta figures do not contradict Ledderose’s theory of the module system because they are made up of distinct building blocks assembled together in different combinations. For example, the hands are made up of standardized, prefabricated parts like thumb and palm put in a limited amount of different combinations. The hands are all the same size but since they are put together in different ways they, have different functions. Therefore we see the module system in hands; they are made up of standardized parts. Module system is also evident in other areas of the body in terra-cotta figures....