CHIN 50 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Facial Expression, Dunhuang Manuscripts, Northern Wei
Document Summary
Tang arts and culture and the silk road. The evolution of female beauty in the tang. More freedom of movement (playing polo on horseback) and broadening of roles for women. Three-colored glaze and art inspired by the silk road shows that there"s more diplomatic relations and trade. Dunhuang buddhist painting mogao (short distance from dunhuang) contains immense cave paintings, reflecting the cultural background of the travellers through the area, as well as narrative paintings depicting the sutras of buddhism. *silk painting of buddha preaching the law, depicting the early life of buddha. *transition between death and rebirth, showing the guiding bodhisattva helping the small figure for reborn to paradise. *cave painting: troop of musicians; cultural exchange along the silk road; different musicians playing different musical instruments. Dunhuang manuscript library - 40000-50000 manuscript rolls; relating to religious cultures and a variety of texts. Written in many different languages - linguistic diversity of the silk road.
