| "Traditional Chinese
woodblock printing was first engraved or overlaid on wood and
then printed on paper. The first wood engraving was made
in 868 in the Chinese Tang Dynasty and it was named The
Lonely Tree. According to researchers, most of the early
Chinese woodblock prints were used as illustrations in
books; the art reached a development peak in the Ming
Dynasty. Since then woodblock printing has been used to make
New Year painting. With the adoption of metal printing
and some new printing technology, woodblock printing
gradually declined." (See
China for more information) Often New Years’ prints were
hung as decoration (See Chinese
New Year Calendar) |
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Traditional
Chinese
New Years and Folk Prints |
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Chinese New Year Woodblock
Prints -- Gems of New Year
Prints - An Exhibition from
the Shanghai Library Collection
Chinese New Year Pictures
Keep on clicking “more” at the bottom for
paper cuts, textiles, weaving, silhouettes for shadow play, ceramics…..toys…architecture (home
page).
Blessings
and Happiness: Hidden Meanings in Chinese Folk Art.
Chinese folk art reflects the long history of popular customs and
traditions in Chinese culture. From Chinese Culture Center, San
Fransisco
Chinese New Year Prints
– Door God Deities
Paper
Joss Deities worship thru folk
art prints - by Wang Shucun
Bai
Minority Group woodblock prints – (small folk prints)
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Modern
and Contemporary Woodblock Prints [top
of page] |
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Half a Century of Chinese
Prints From the Communist Revolution to the open-door policy and
beyond. Read about the history
of Chinese woodblock prints. Some traditional images along with
some very modern expressionistic prints. Prints
by artist Prints
by period
Zhao Yannian's woodblock art is inspired by the New Chinese Woodblock
Print Movement and reflects the past 50 years of China's social
history. Article previously listed here is no longer on line.
China
5000 Years: Modern Generations: Woodblock Be sure to check
Graphics, too. See what all The
Modernist Generation
has to off. From Ohio State University College of the Arts
Modern Chinese woodcuts.
The New Woodcut Movement of the 1930s and 40s was begun by the writer
and scholar Lu Xun. From University of Washington
Fifty Years of Chinese
Woodblock Prints Click Nest image to see more individual prints.
See the exhibition
for additional prints. Some traditional images - some very modern.
Chinese printing method
Prints were being made in China from blocks of wood long before
anything like that was done in Japan. From online Woodblock
Encyclopedia
Compare to Japanese prints:
Ukiyo-e
- Picutres of the Floating World
The
Floating World of Ukiyo-E:Library of Congress Exhibition
How Japanese
Woodblock Prints are Made
Handbook
of Japanese Printing Technique
form online woodblock encyclopedia
Contemporary printmaker Qijia Dawa (you do not need to install Chinese characters to view - written in
English)
New
Chinese Art: Woodcuts Contemporary prints
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Chinese
Paper
Cuts
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of page] |
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"China's paper cuts have a long history,
with the oldest known paper cuts dating back to the North Dynasties
period (386-581 A.D.). Paper cut art is created all over China, though
regional variations exist. Traditionally, the styles of paper cut art corresponded to one of two functions: fertility,
or preventative and curative properties. An example of the former might
be a paper cut of a pomegranate blossom attached to the marriage bed; an
example of the latter might be a paper cut of a tiger on the door of the room
where a mother has just given birth to a son--the tiger was supposed to
scare away evil."
"The animals of the Chinese zodiac are the most common theme in paper
cuts, but other animals and plants--many with symbolic meanings--are
frequently depicted, as are figures from Chinese stories, legend, and
religion. Paper cuts are normally used for decorating windows, but might also decorate
lanterns, mirrors, walls, or more. Paper cuts are likely to be seen
around the time of Chinese holidays and festivals, especially Chinese
New Year"
Chinese Folk Art -Paper cuts and
silhouettes (this site is temporarily down - check back later)
Chinese paper cuts -lots of examples
The art of Chinese Paper-cuts
Information
on Chinese Paper Cuts Historical significance.
Chinese Paper
Cuts -Commercial site - but nice examples
Commercial site - Chinese Folk art - LOTS of examples
More sites on Oriental Art links
page.
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Chinese
Folk
Art
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of page] |
"Chinese folk art is
expressed in many different ways: embroidery, textiles,
paper-cuts, masks, wood-carving, ceramics, and more. Each
minority group has
its particular way of expressing these art forms, but there
are many common
characteristics: strong colors, solid images, auspicious
themes, rich and
genuine compositions, exaggerated expressions, and
metaphors."
Chinese Folk Art Information Service System: Come here for wood block
prints, paper cutes, toys, textiles, ceramics an SO much more.
Chinese
Folk Art, Festivals and Symbolism - pdf file (37 pages).
Excellent review for you and your students. From Phoebe A.
Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Teaching
Kit available. Alos download the vocabulary, review
questions and resources file (10 page pdf).
Chinese Folk Art (this is a commercial site - but it is a good one)
Chinese Folk Art, your source for folk art from China, offers
Chinese
peasant paintings (Jinshan, Huxian, and Tianjin styles),
products based on
Jinshan peasant paintings, silk embroidery, kites, paper cuts,
cloisonné and
silver jewelry, blue and white batik, and other arts and
crafts.
Chinese Folk Art - dolls and puppets Commercial site - but
beautiful examples
Blessing and Happiness: Hidden Meanings in Chinese Folk Art
Chinese folk art reflects the long history of popular customs
and traditions
in Chinese culture. Chinese Culture Center
Ethnic Culture and Contemporary Spirit: The Art of Shanye Huang
These paintings are a must see- BEAUTIFUL. A nice connection
would be the work of
Betty LaDuke
Chinese kites: (commercial site) Kites have a long and interesting
history in China, where
they were invented some 2,400 years ago. Kite-flying, once
used for military
purposes and in scientific research, is still a popular sport
and pastime in
China today. (commercial site to buy
kites)
Brief
history of Chinese Kites
More on
the history of Chinese kits (more history)
More on the history of
Chinese kits and links for Chinese Culture
Seal carving See examples (the introduction is in Chinese) More
on Seal Carving.
And don't forget the ULTIMATE site on Chinese art and culture: China
the Beautiful.
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Chinese
Puppets and Shadow Plays
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of page] |
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Chinese
Dragon Puppet Lesson Plan - by Ann Henderson, Isle of Wight.
Suitable for many ages. Lots of fun!
Chinese Glove Puppets
- Originally started in the Ming dynasty (around 1328
A.D.) commercial site - but
beautiful images.
Chinese:
Folk Art: Dolls and Puppets. commercial site - but nice images
commercial site
An antique example of Chinese Puppet
Asian Wood Dolls: Indian and Chinese Dolls Wooden puppets
Glove puppets
Marionettes
Shadow puppets
Chinese Shadow Puppets:
History of Thai Puppets
Chinese Folk Toys - background information:
Folk Art
Puppet Folk
art shadow puppet lots more shadow plays on
the site. (Site is temporarily down - check back later)
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Chinese
Calligraphy
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of page] |
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Consider
Chinese New Year's Calligraphy
couplets
Arts
Crafts:Chinese NewYear :Couplets. (Commercial site - see examples)
"Chinese calligraphy is an art with an illustrious tradition as old
as the culture itself. For nearly two thousand years, the basic media, the
major script variations, and the standards of excellence of the art have
remained almost unchanged. Today, Chinese calligraphy is still considered an
elegant art form even in neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea."
( from http://www.isaacnet.com/culture/calligrf.htm)
"In the East calligraphy has been consistently practiced as a major
aesthetic expression. In China, from the 5th cent. B.C., when it was
first used, calligraphy has always been considered equal, or even superior, to
painting. Chinese calligraphy began with a simplified seal script, known
as "chancery script," in which the width of the strokes varies
and the edges and ends are sharp. The perfection of the brush in the 1st cent. A.D.
made possible the stylization of chancery script into "regular
script," distinguished by its straight strokes of varying width, and clear, sharp
corners, and a cursive "running hand." The Japanese value calligraphy as highly as do the Chinese. They began
to practice it only in the 7th cent. A.D., with the introduction of
Buddhist manuscripts from China. Kukai, c.800, invented the syllabic script,
which was based on Chinese characters." (from
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/society/A0857130.html)
Art of Chinese Calligraphy: Illustrative examples of the best Chinese
calligraphy by the masters spanning the last 3000 years.
Appreciation of Chinese Calligraphy -
Introduction to appreciation of Chinese calligraphy, showing various
styles
of writing a single Chinese word.
Asia Wind Art: Chinese Calligraphy - has some good information
Chinese Calligraphy (from About.com....watch out for those pop-up
ads!)
Work of Dr. Jingjing Ye Contemporary calligraphy artist
History of Chinese Calligraphy Calligraphy
-- origin
Word
Play: Contemporary Art of Xu Bing - Exhibit at Smithsonian Sackler
Gallery. For biography of Xu Bing.
Lesson Plan: Chinese Calligraphy by Jackie Fried, Wheaton HS
Lesson
Plan: Photomontage using Chinese characters
Contemporary
Calligraphy - Calligraphy, Lettering and Artists Books Site by
Cecilia Sharpley - On this website there are well over
1000 pages of artwork, including handmade books, calligraphy, paste
papers, a mail art gallery and a Children's
Playground of Lettering. A feast for the eyes!
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