Ancient Chinese Sculpture

Sculpture is divided into two forms of carving and molding, an addition and a subtraction, carving belongs to the subtraction, it is difficult to control, want to achieve the shape of both God is a very difficult thing. Plastic is the addition, relatively good grasp. Ancient craftsmen are masters , addition is always simpler than subtraction.

Ancient Chinese stone carving is a special category, from the initial generation to the early 80's before the stone carving is valued, each period of the product has its own specific style, and will not be copied by future generations. Because for the ancients stone carving will always be a sacred object loaded with inner beliefs.

One, the two Han Dynasty (Shinto period)

The two Han Dynasty, the ancients took materials from the ground after the shape of the carving, the roughness of the refining of the points, lines and surfaces without losing. In order to save labor with the idea of refining the beauty of the type is the biggest feature of that period, Huo Zaodi's tomb in front of the horse on the Huns and stone statues are the most representative works. There are also a large number of portrait stone unearthed, but also reflects the high degree of generalization of the shape of the people at that time, the ideological understanding of the death of life, the inheritance of the ancient legends and carry forward.

Two, Wei, Jin, North and South Dynasties (Paradise period)

This period due to the popularization of Buddhist culture and the integration of nationalities, so that the theme of the stone carving is better diversified, stylistic diversification and skill has reached an unprecedented level of sophistication. At this time, the Buddha carving works have a broad and heavy state, but also not lose the elegance of the beauty of the fresh.

Sculpture production scale is magnificent, the number of huge, artistic skills have improved greatly, Buddhist sculpture in this period in the main position, the most outstanding achievements, it draws on foreign artistic achievements are mainly expressed in the Buddhist statues.

The process of war and integration between different dynasties and nationalities, but also different cultural systems and different styles of stone sculpture fusion process, for the Sui and Tang dynasties laid a solid ideological and cultural foundation for cultural unification.

This period is the heavenly period of stone carving, all the works are just like the pen made in heaven, sacred and inviolable.

Three, the Sui and Tang dynasties (temple period) the pinnacle of art

China's Sui and Tang dynasties in the continuation of about three and a half centuries of division and turmoil, reunification and stability, into a political and economic prosperity of the historical period, which led to the development of sculpture art appeared new peaks.

Sui-Tang stone carving integration of the achievements of the North and South Dynasties, and through the Silk Road to draw the nourishment of foreign art, sculpture to the full Tang Dynasty shine, creating a style of the era of immortal masterpieces.

Four, Song and Yuan period (humanization period)

Song and Yuan sculpture lack of Sui and Tang Dynasty's grand scale and exuberant momentum, in the realistic approach to carving on the development of religious sculpture occupies an important position, digging grottoes of the trend has been declining, temple sculpture is still a certain scale. Due to the further secularization of religious art, God and Buddha statues in the idealization of the components significantly weakened, the real-life atmosphere is greatly enhanced.

Fifth, the Ming and Qing dynasties (secularization period) more grounded

Ming and Qing stone carving along the ancient tradition continues to develop, showing the stereotypes and secularization. Expression of the increasingly folk, the formation of work and complex, delicate, brightly colored art style. The subject matter is also diversified from palaces and temples to residential tables, from statues and monuments to protect the son of the lion and hitchhiking, everything.

Scrutinizing ancient stone carving art can not use one-sided era preferences to scrutinize the beauty and ugliness. Because the ancestors of different times in different cultural systems and production tools, produced works with the characteristics of the times and national characteristics. With the dissemination of culture and mingling of themes also began to become more rich, diversified. This is the objective existence, we have to use a comprehensive vision to examine the historical legacy.

We are now the era of stone art of the end of the era, we can do is to use modern aesthetics to show and display the ancient stone carving legacy. We can do the perfect display is our generation to the ancient ancestors of the greatest respect.

Expanded:

According to a report by Dragon Magazine on June 6, the Beijing Longyuan Traditional Cultural Exchange The first 2019 "International Biennale of Urban Sculpture in China's Qin-Han New City" hosted by Beijing Longyuan Traditional Culture Exchange Center will debut in Venice on the 11th of local time with a press conference, according to Dragon Magazine. Chinese and foreign artists are welcome to participate in the construction of urban public **** space in China.

The first International Biennial of Urban Sculpture in China's Qinhan New City is a biennial exhibition with sculpture as the main artistic carrier. Relying on the Qinhan New City in Shaanxi Province's Xixian New District, the exhibition is intended to enrich the public **** aesthetic needs of Chinese cities, enhance the quality of urban public **** space, and highlight the cultural connotation of the city.

Qinghan New City, Xixian, China, rich in historical and cultural resources, the Zhou, Qin, Han relics all over, including the ruins of the capital of the Great Qin Empire and known as the "Chinese pyramid" group of nine Western Han Dynasty Imperial Tomb Corridor stretches Xiongnu Chen, the Han Dynasty Emperor Liu Bang Changling, Liu Che Maoling, Liu Qiyangling is renowned.

More than 2,000 years of history and culture have made China's Xixian Qinhan New City the spiritual root of Eastern civilization, mapping the source of Chinese civilization. In recent years of urban construction, Xixian Qinhan New City has created more than 40 large-scale sculptures within an area of more than 200 square kilometers. Such as "The Steps of Qin People" and "Frozen Water". These sculptures express the ancient city's heavy cultural heritage and the new power of endless development.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia - Ancient Chinese Sculptures

ChinaTibet.com-2019 First "China Qin-Han New City Sculpture Biennale" Press Conference