Chinastudies – Studyguides A&L
onderdeel literatuur blok 3 + 4 S2
Study Guide: Early Chinese Tombs as “Artistic” Sites (Week 2)
I Short Questions:
1. Cases of prehistoric sites (name of the site; date—century, and location):
Site: Sanxingdui
Site: Sanxingdui
Date: 1200 BCE, Shang-
Date: 1200 BCE, Shang-
dynasty
dynasty
Location: Chengdu
Location: Chengdu
Sichuan
Sichuan
Maks
Site: Liangzhu Culture
Site: Liangzhu culture
Date: 3300-2250 BCE
Date: 3300-2250 BCE
Location: Zhejiang
Location: Zhejiang
Province
Province
2. Which culture is famous for making the cong jade? What is its shape like?
- The Liangzhu Culture (3300 – 2250 BCE)
- ‘Cong’ jade (= jade tube) has a square shape with the distinct round cylindrical shape inside
of it, which resembles both heaven (round) and earth (square) at the same time.
3. When did writing begin to emerge in ancient China (which dynasty)? What were the
functions of oracle bones, and what were they made of?
- The emergence of writing began in the Shang-dynasty.
- They were used in divination rituals and to communicate with heaven where the Emperor
would ask for answers on all sorts of questions (political, social, economics), with the help of
shamans.
- Oracle bones were made of turtle shells and scapula’s of oxes.
, Extra info:
Divinatie (= vermeende kunst om de toekomst te voorspellen) speelde een hele belangrijke
rol in de Shang-religieuze en politieke leven. Divinatie was in dit geval een systematische
manier om de toekomst te voorspellen aan de hand van schilden van schildpaden of de
beenderen van ossen. Voor de koning was divinatie een manier om hulp te krijgen van
goddelijke machten (goden en voorouders) in het nemen van beslissingen.
De koning was verantwoordelijk voor een heel aantal terreinen in het economische, religieuze
en het politieke leven van de Shang-gemeenschap.
Er valt te lezen dat de koning hulp vroeg aan de goden bij een heel aantal vragen. Enkele
voorbeelden zijn:
• Wanneer moeten boeren zaaien/ oogsten (economisch vlak)?
• Wanneer was er sprake van regenval (economisch vlak)?
• Wie moest welke positie innemen (politiek vlak)
• Wanneer was het een goed moment om oorlog te voeren (politiek vlak)?
• Hoe om te gaan met de leden van de koninklijke familie?
• Geslacht van een ongeboren kind?
4. Who was Fuhao?
- Fuhao (1200 BCE) was the wife consort of King Wuding during the Shang-dynasty.
- In her tomb many artifacts and offerings were found being buried with her like Bronze axes,
drinking vessels and other bronze vessels. It was speculated she was also a military
commander.
5. What were the two bronze-casting techniques in early China? Can you tell from the
examples below?
1. The Piece-mould casting In which liquid bronze was poured into a mold.
After it cools down, it will take shape. This was
used to less detailed and more simple designs
2. Lost wax casting For more sophisticated designs. The form of
the object to be made first modelled in wax,
which is covered in clay to form the object to
be mold. When hot metal is poured in, the wax
melt and is lost (hence the name); the mould
is broken to remove the metal piece and
cannot be reused.
The Piece-mold casting Lost wax casting Lost wax casting
6. For what purposes were the following figurines made (tomb occupant, size, time period)?
Purpose: protecting and accompanying the Emperor in his afterlife.
• Tomb occupant: Tomb of the First
Emperor of the Qin-dynasty
, • Size: life-size
• Time period: 3rd century BCE, Shaanxi
Province. Qin-dynasty
• Purpose: a ruler in death should inhabit
a palace, and he should be
accompanied in this case by models of
military forces, formed the military
escort to the corpse. → sacrificial
figurines, accompanying and protecting
the Emperor in his afterlife.
• Tomb occupant: Tomb of Emperor
Jingdi of the Han-dynasty
These (clay) statues were found in the
tomb of Emperor Jingdi, dated in the
Early (Western) Han-dynasty.
• Size: they were about 50cm, not so
realistic and life-like, but were carved by
wood separately. Originally they had
also worn clothes, perhaps to create a
sense of verisimilitude (= the
appearance of being true or real).
• Time period: 157-141 BCE (2nd
century), Han-dynasty
• Purpose: sacrificial figurines,
accompanying and protecting the
emperor in his afterlife
7. What is the function of the following pieces? What is their shape supposed to resemble?
Het betreft een wierrookbrander. De bovenkant representeert de onsterfelijke bergen en de onderkant
representeert de oceaan.
Extra info:
These are incense burners (= wierrookbrander) ‘boshanlu’ of gilt silver, with the animals climbing the
(immortal) mountains. This object is used for the ritual of the deceased of the upper class.
Upper - The upper part is pointy and misty like,
supposed to represent the immortal mountains
with holes to allow smoke to wreath it when
incense is lit inside.
- This is not a real mountain, but a paradise
where the soul might dwell after death, in the
company of magical beasts and immortals.
, - Clouds and waves, upgoing qi → resembles
clouds.
Middle The middle part on the second picture
represents bamboo.
Bottom The lower decorated part is supposed to
represent the ocean (lower part is a bowl and
perfumed water put in there).
II Essay Question
What is the function of the silk banner from Lady Dai’s tomb? How would you situate it in the
larger context of Lady Dai’s grave and Han mortuary practices? (150 words)
Het kunnen "naam banieren" zijn die gebruikt werden om de doden te identificeren tijdens de rouw
ceremonies.
Het kunnen graf kleden zijn geweest om de ziel te helpen bij de overgang naar het hiernamaals.
De silk banner zegt iets over hoe ze tijdens de Han-dynastie begrafenissen hielden en het geloof in
het hiernamaals. De elite mannen en vrouwen van de Han dynastie genoten van een weelderige
levensstijl die zich kon uitstrekken tot in het hiernamaals. Een rijke ambtenaar kon zich bijvoorbeeld
prachtige zijden gewaden veroorloven, in tegenstelling tot de zelfgemaakte of papieren kleding van
een arbeider of boer. Hun graftombes vertegenwoordigen de hiërarchie in deze dynastie en hun
kosmologische overtuigingen.
The elite men and women of the Han-dynasty (China’s second imperial dynasty, 206 BCE – 220 CE)
enjoyed an opulent lifestyle that could stretch into the afterlife. Today, the well-furnished tombs of the
elite give is a glimpse of the luxurious goods they treasured and enjoyed. For instance, a wealthy
official could afford beautiful silk robes in the contrast to the homespun or paper garments of a laborer
or peasant. Their tombs also inform us about their cosmological beliefs.
The banner has some connection with the afterlife. They may be ‘name banners’ used to identify the
death during the mourning ceremonies, or they may have been burial shrouds intended to aid the soul
in its passage to the afterlife.
• Banner put on top of the interior coffin containing Lady Dai, identifying who lays in the tomb.
• The silk banner represents the legend of the sun and the raven. In the bigger picture, from
Lady Dai's grave emerges that said that people during that period still believe in the afterlife.
In the grave were all useful daily necessities such as cosmetics and food. On her coffin is the
path of Lady Dai's soul drawn along with spirits that are and are not good. This shows that
people are believed to have souls and there are spirits and believe in the afterlife.
• The silk banner was probably used as a function for the afterlife. It would be used as ‘name
banners’ to identify the dead during mourning ceremonies. The silk banner says something
about how they held funerals during the Han-dynasty and their belief in the afterlife.
• It was part of the ritual and not separate from it.
