Exploring the history of art in China from its earliest incarnations to the present day, this comprehensive volume includes two dozen newly-commissioned essays spanning the theories, genres, and media central to Chinese art and theory throughout its history.
- Provides an exceptional collection of essays promoting a comparative understanding of China’s long record of cultural production
- Brings together an international team of scholars from East and West, whose contributions range from an overview of pre-modern theory, to those exploring calligraphy, fine painting, sculpture, accessories, and more
- Articulates the direction in which the field of Chinese art history is moving, as well as providing a roadmap for historians interested in comparative study or theory
- Proposes new and revisionist interpretations of the literati tradition, which has long been an important staple of Chinese art history
- Offers a rich insight into China’s social and political institutions, religious and cultural practices, and intellectual traditions, alongside Chinese art history, theory, and criticism
List of Figures xi
Notes on Contributors xv
Introduction 1
Martin J. Powers and Katherine R. Tsiang
Part I Production and Distribution 27
1 Court Painting 29
Patricia Ebrey
2 The Culture of Art Collecting in Imperial China 47
Scarlett Jang
3 Art, Print, and Cultural Discourse in Early Modern China 73
J. P. Park
4 Art and Early Chinese Archaeological Materials 91
Xiaoneng Yang
Part II Representaló“