Set within the broader context of China’s diverse geography and cross-cultural exchange, the course presents a chronological journey through major artistic and architectural traditions spanning over 8,000 years, from prehistoric times to the final imperial era of the Qing dynasty. Students will examine how specific cultural practices and materials—such as bronze and stone, ink and paper, clay and wood—have shaped the evolution of traditional Chinese art. The course is visually enriched with maps, curated images, and architectural illustrations that bring to life the dynamic interplay between art, political institutions, and social life in China's long history.
- Sullivan, Michael, Vainker, Shelagh, 2018, The Arts of China (6th edition), University of California Press. ISBN-10 : 9780520294806
- Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman, 2019, Chinese Architecture: A History, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 978-0-691-19197-3
- Clunas, Craig, 2009, Art in China (2nd edition), Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 9780300094473
- Fong, Wen C. (ed.), 1980, The Great Bronze Age of China: An Exhibition from the People’s Republic of China, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN: 0-87099-226-0
- Tsien, Tsuen-Hsuin, 1985, Paper and Printing. Volume 5, Part I of Science and Civilisation in China, ed. Joseph Needham, Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521086141
- Rawson, Jessica, 1987, Chinese Bronzes: Art and Ritual, British Museum Press. ISBN: 9780714114462
- Thorp, Robert L., Richard Ellis Vinograd, 2001, Chinese Art and Culture, Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780131833646
- Chinese Pre-history art: 6000-1600BC
- Chinese art in the bronze age (Shang and Zhou Dynasties: 1600-221BC)
- Chinese art in the Qin and Han Dynasties: 221BC-220AD
- Chinese art in a reshaping period: 220-618AD
- Chinese art in its peak (Tang and Song Dynasties: 618-1271AD)
- Chinese art in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (1271-1911)
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Evaluate how natural resources, political institutions, and cross-cultural exchanges had shaped the development of Chinese art and architecture over different Chinese historical periods.
- Identify and interpret key works of traditional Chinese art and architecture, demonstrating knowledge of their historical context, material composition, and cultural significance from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty.
- Demonstrate visual and contextual literacy by using maps, artifacts, and visual materials to trace the evolution of aesthetic preferences, social values, and ideological themes in Chinese art history.
