China: Arts and Crafts

China has a long and glorious history in both arts and traditional crafts. These are just two of the many jewels in China's over five thousand-year culture. The arts and crafts are not only the embodiment of the people's longing for aesthetic beauty but also great treasures for China and the rest of the world. Many of the master artisans have had their skills handed down via one generation to the next so that only the offspring of such an artisan could learn the necessary skills required. Chinese arts are influenced by three major religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Another major influence was nature. The three major kinds of subject they liked to paint were birds, flowers, and landscapes from the countryside. All the religions stress love for nature. All landscape painters tried to get a feeling of the human spirit and the strength of the wind, water, mist and mountains. Painting became an art form more than 2000 years ago then influenced the later painters. Chinese arts come in many different forms such as: painting, folk arts, silk, calligraphy, pottery, sculpture, metal arts and paper cuts. Chinese Performing Arts is different and unique. Folk Arts, Acrobatics, Opera, Dance, and Puppetry. These are truly Chinese and bring inspiration and enchantment to its viewers. Another thing that sets Chinese Performing Arts apart is how good the performances and performers are. How exactly do those dancers move about and leap with such alacrity and synchronization? How can those young acrobats flip and throw each other and shoot bows from arrows by the feet? How can those opera singers act so well and sing from this note to that with such accuracy? The answer lies in the fact that all performers in China are true professionals. They train day in and day out, every single day and night, since their early childhood. Practically ever since birth these performers enrol in special training schools to become professional performers and they do not live normal lives. Such hard work does pay off for the respect and admiration they receive from their audiences.

 

Performing Arts

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is a pearl in the treasure house of the traditional Chinese performing arts. Chinese acrobatics has a long and rich heritage. The acrobatic art has been existent in China for more than two thousand years. The present status of Chinese acrobatics reflects the industry, resourcefulness, and undaunting courage of the Chinese people. In the past forty years and more, many Chinese acrobatic troupes have toured more than one hundred countries and regions of the world and promoted friendship and cultural exchanges. Some of the forms of acrobatics are the Lion Dance, Cycling feats, Hoop diving, Wushu, Spring board stunts, Gymnastics On Double-Fixed Poles.

 

Opera

Opera viewing has long been a popular entertainment enjoyed by both the common people as well as China's royalty and aristocracy. Also Scholars and gentry were attracted by libretto and musical score writing. Facial make-up in Chinese Opera, besides giving information about the personality traits and mind set of a character, also has inherent artistic interest. The designs and colours employed all have specific meanings. Red symbolizes loyalty and courage; black represents a bold and swashbuckling character; blue shows a calculating nature; and white portrays a deceitful and conniving individual. Silver and gold are reserved for the exclusive use of spirits and gods. The costumes worn in Chinese Opera performances are broadly based on the dress in China about four centuries ago during the Ming Dynasty. Chinese Opera costumes tell much about the character wearing them.

 

Chinese Dance

Chinese dance has its own unique vocabulary, meanings, and ordered structure that enable a dancer to fully express his thoughts and feelings with ease and grace. Each regional group of China has its own folk dance forms. Dance is as much symbolism and expression as it was beauty. The development of modern Chinese dance has taken on a dynamic personality. Usually, young people going into dance study ballet and modern dance first, then they study the technique and syntax of traditional Chinese dance. From there they seek out new directions for Chinese style body expressions and movements with an open mind for experimentation. Since about 1970, the original and unique compositions of young dancers have occasioned a renaissance in Chinese dance.

 

Chinese Puppetry

The Chinese puppetry comes in three forms: the marionette theatre, the shadow theatre, and the glove theatre. Of the three, marionette theatre has the longest history and has spread the farthest. Puppetry in China has been considered a performing art of immense appeal rather than a casual amusement or child's game. String marionettes are the oldest and most common marionette puppet. Marionette shows are performed to drive evil spirits away or thank the gods. Traditionally, marionette performances are presented on the birthday of the Jade Emperor and that of the Three Great Emperors. Marionette presentations are also featured at the first birthday of a baby and the birthday of an elderly person. Marionette puppet shows are often regarded as a rite in reverence of the gods. Shadow puppetry is based on the penetration of light through a translucent screen or sheet of cloth; the shadows seen by the audience are silhouettes. Traditionally, the 8-12 inch puppets, scenery, and props such as furniture, pagodas, halls, and plants are made from leather. Historical Chinese novels are usually adapted for glove puppet shows. Glove puppets also known as bag puppets are the most popular theatrical form in Taiwan. Taiwan glove puppeteers can make their puppets perform martial arts tactics, somersaults, and other special movements.

 

Visual Arts

Chinese paintings

The human figure, landscape, animal, flower-and-bird types of painting are the main types of traditional Chinese painting. The fundamental component of Chinese painting, as in Chinese calligraphy is the line. Because of this shared feature, these two arts have had a close mutual relationship since the beginning of time. Writing on paintings was given a more prominent place on the work. This caused a union of signature, names of giver and receiver, and notes on the painting or related verse, with the painting itself. The stamping of name chops also became established at this time, and the addition of name chop impressions, an art in itself, further enriched Chinese painting. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made are paper and silk. The finished work is then mounted on scrolls, which can be hung or rolled up.

 

Calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is a unique gem of Oriental culture. Graphically, it is comparable to painting in its ability to express emotion through a rich variety of form and design. As abstract art, it displays the rhythmic and harmonious flow of music. And from a practical point of view, it is written language. In China, calligraphy occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. It is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense. Speed, strength and agility is the essence of fine artwork. When writing, many calligraphers will forget all worries and even themselves, combining all thoughts in the beauty of their art. Thus it can be compared with Qigong, which also can mould and improve a person's temper and promote well being. The implements are the brush pen, made of animal hair, and black inks, made from pine soot and animal glue. Original writings by famous calligraphers have been greatly valued throughout China's history and are mounted on scrolls and hung on walls in the same way that paintings are.

 

Pottery and Porcelain

The origins of Chinese pottery and porcelain go back to distant antiquity. And from the masterful excellence of Chinese ceramics, we can deduce the painstaking labour that went into making them. The key to the high level of pottery development lies in the spirit of Chinese craftsmen to strive for excellence. Ceramic and porcelain pieces dating back to various historical periods have demonstrated again and again how Chinese artisans overcame the shortcomings of the materials they used and how craftsmanship can conquer the difficulties encountered in working with clay. Pottery and porcelain artisans of today have full access to modern technological knowledge and can freely choose their equipment. But they all still carry on in the traditional belief that man can indeed conquer nature. Some imitate ancient designs, and others produce avant garde pieces. With their minds, their hands, and clay and fire, these potters express the their perception of beauty, their professional experience, their sensitivity, and their level of artistic cultivation.

 

Cloisonné

Cloisonné is a unique art form that originated in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368). It has another name inlaid enamel which is the unique technique of the combination of porcelain and bronze. We may say, the technique of cloisonné is used not only the bronze crafts, but also the porcelain crafts, meanwhile, fetching in plenty of traditional and carving technique, which is the combination of Chinese traditional arts. Today cloisonné technique is associated with the sculpture of wood, jade, ivory and lacquer. Cloisonné art is exported to many countries as a favourite medium for ornaments. An exquisite piece of cloisonné must have colours that are glossy, fresh, and bright, a body that is substantive and sturdy, a wire inlay that is neat and well-proportioned, and gold plating that glitters.

 

Lacquer Art

Chinese lacquer ware refers to household utensils, handicrafts and artworks coated with lacquer in ancient China. It is an ingenious invention and a pearl of Chinese artworks. Lacquer is a natural substance obtained from the lacquer tree. The tree is indigenous to China, and that is why China leads the world in lacquer resources. When an object is coated with lacquer, it can no longer be distinguished as being made from a certain of material, therefore, all objects coated with lacquer are referred to as lacquer ware. Lacquer ware is moisture-proof and resistant to heat, acid, and alkali, and its colour and lustre can easily last beyond a few hundred years, adding beauty to its practical use. Many different areas are fit to grow the lacquer or varnish tree, but most of the raw lacquer comes from 5 provinces: Shaanxi, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.

 

Chinese Jade

The history of jade is as long as the Chinese civilization. Archaeologists have found jade objects from the early Neolithic period (about 5000 BC). It is a fine, beautiful stone with a warm colour and rich lustre, that is skilfully carved. In Chinese culture jade symbolizes nobility, perfection, beauty, grace, purity, constancy, and immortality. For ages, jade has been an intimate part of the lives of all Chinese. It is considered the most valuable of all precious stones. Jade is found in mountains and riverbeds, and Chinese consider jade to be "the essence of heaven and earth." Jade is an essence produced through the natural forces of rivers and mountains over eons. However, if it is not skilfully cut and polished, there is no way for the potential richness and lustre that people prize to be expressed. The purchase, wearing, and giving of jade items as gifts is very common. Jade is an ideal gift for couples getting married, for one's children when they get married. Even now, the Chinese retain the idea that in addition to being beautiful, jade can protect from misfortune and bring good luck.

 

Embroidery

As one of the ancient handicrafts of China, embroidery has greatly contributed to the progress and enhancement of China's material civilization. China is the first country in the world that discovered the use of silk. Silkworms were domesticated as early as 5000 years ago, and the production of silk thread and fabrics gave rise to the art of embroidery. Originally used to signify one's caste position, embroidery later came to have a purely ornamental value and evolved into a favoured art form of the common people. As embroidery developed, its artistic features multiplied. Embroidered works have become highly complex and exquisite today. The best commercial products come from four provinces: Jiangsu (notably Suzhou), Hunan, Sichuan and Guangdong, each with its distinctive features.

 

Paper Cuts

One of China's most popular folk arts is paper cutting. Paper cuttings are not produced by machine, but by hand. They are created either with a pair scissors or a knife. With scissors, up to 8 pieces of paper are fastened together, and then the pattern is cut. With knife cuttings, several layers of paper are put on a foundation of tallow and ashes, and then following a pattern, the artist cuts the pattern into the paper with a knife which is usually held vertically. The advantage of knife cuttings is that considerably more paper cuttings can be made in one operation than with scissors. Because the cut outs are also used to decorate doors and windows, they are sometimes referred to as Window Flower. In the rural countryside in mainland China, paper cutting is a traditionally female activity. In the past, every girl was expected to master it and brides were often judged by their skill. Professional paper cutting artists are, on the other hand, usually male and have guaranteed incomes and work together in workshops.