Modern
historians typically refer to the Three Dynasties of the
legendary Hsia as well as Shang and Chou (ca. 19th
century-221 B.C.E.), as narrated in ancient books, when
they speak of the "Classical Age" in Chinese history.
From the Three Dynasties period into the Ch'in and Han
dynasties (221 B.C.E.-220 C.E.), Chinese civilization
underwent enormous change. Politically, there was the
end of feudalism and the emergence of the fountainhead
of the imperial system. Socially, the strict hierarchy
was crumbling in the face of increasing egalitarianism.
Ideologically, studies especially catering to the nobility
broadened to a wider, richer pool of knowledge to which
all scholars could contribute. Finally, the Confucian
school of thought ultimately prevailed and was endorsed
by the government. Culturally, the era still placed focus
on the practice of rites and ceremonies for the spirits,
but it also represents the last gasp in the use of bronze
ritual objects as cultural symbols. Replacing them were
various objects of daily life that highlighted the utilitarian,
pluralistic, and lively aspects of the people. From a
broader perspective, such "traditions" that persisted
and survived to impact the ensuing development of Chinese
civilization actually originated in the Ch'in (221-207
B.C.E.) and Han (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) period. Indeed,
it was truly a pivotal time of transition from the "classic"
to "tradition".
The gallery for this exhibit is divided into two areas
devoted to aspects of material and spiritual culture.
It attempts to use artifacts from these two dynasties
from the Museum collection to produce a lucid explanation
of the essential features of Ch'in and Han culture, as
well as the unique features of the artworks themselves.
During the Ch'in and Han, bronze and jade objects were
still considered valuables reserved for the upper echelons
of society; but glazed pottery and lacquerware were also
seldom used by ordinary people. Gray pottery is what appeared
among the belongings of the vast number of people in society,
either for use in daily life or as funerary accompaniment.
Amidst these objects of a myriad media and materials,
the decorative motifs on them were intricately linked
to religion and beliefs, symbolizing and formulating the
spiritual culture of the Ch'in and Han dynasties.
In the section on "Material
Culture", exhibit items include artifacts that have
survived from the lives of people in the Han dynasty.
They depict the many facets of life and manifest the
material culture at the time. Vessels for cooking (such
as the "ting", "tseng", and "yen"),
containers for drinks (such as "tsun", "chung",
"hu", and cups), water vessels (such as "chien"
and "p'an"), oil lamps for illumination, "po-shan"
censers for burning incense and fragrance, and weights
in the shape of various animals were all some of the
necessities of everyday life. The sword, knife, seal,
jade ornaments, and bronze mirror carried by a gentleman
also enriched the material culture of people in the
Han dynasty.
From the variegated threads of traditions that sprung
from the Spring and Autumn (770-476 B.C.E.) as well
as Warring States periods (475-221 B.C.E.), people of
the Ch'in and Han adopted a systematic and eternal view
of the cosmos, one that substantiates itself in the
form of decorative motifs found in works of art. Such
are presented in the display area here on "Spiritual
Culture". The prevalence of images, such as the phoenix
and dragon, as well as the Four Spirits, is a reinforcement
of the belief in the Yin-yang and Five Elements. Cloud
scrolls and astronomical signs, as well as mountains
of the immortals, auspicious beasts, winged figures,
and the Queen Mother of the West, aptly demonstrate
a perception of the cosmos as well as their notions
of life and death. In expressing these views of a more
abstract nature, such auspicious inscriptions as "everlasting
happiness" and "filial descendants" reflect a focus
on both the present and the afterlife.
In conclusion, rooted in a cultural foundation as such,
the Ch'in and Han dynasties initiated what was thereafter
known as the "Glorious Age of the Great Han", rivaling
the Roman Empire of the West in terms of influence and
greatness. These indeed were the two most powerful states
of the East and West at the time. |
