The painting Qingming Shang He Tu ("Scenes along the River during the Qingming Festival"),an over 16-foot panorama running from right to left, is considered to be one of the most brilliant works in Chinese art history. It is a masterpiece of realism, recording the pulse of a thriving, historical town and showing extraordinary detail.
The Along the River During the Qingming Festival was painted by Chang Ze-Duan of North Song Dynasty on silk. Painted in light colors, it is 528cm wide and 24.8cm tall. Qingming implies Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Festival. “Shang He” (above the river) was a norm at that time. After worshipping the ancestors and sweeping their tombs, people would get on the bridge to enjoy the view of Bianjing and River Bian. Or they may wander along the bridge and buy snacks from the vendors there and visit the riverside towns. This is what “Qingming Shang He” means. In the painting, we can see many of the norms of Qingming Festival, such as the pasted paper building miniatures in front of the “Wang’s Paper Horse Shop,” the tomb sweeping team with sedan chairs decorated with willow branches and flowers outside the city, the vendors selling mud figurines at the entrances of the bridge, the people gathering and drinking after tomb sweeping, and more. These scenes are similar to the descriptions of The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor. In short, it is a masterpiece of social norms painting completed in the Song Dynasty. Cosmos Classics hopes to delineate and demonstrate the connotations and beauty of Along the River During the Qingming Festival in a candid attitude to allow readers to feel the beauty of this portrayal of the Bianjing in North Song Dynasty nine hundred years ago through textual guides of this book and the appreciation of this painting. In addition, it is hoped that readers can feel the Chang Ze-Duan’s dedication in the layout and thinking of this painting. We write in a comprehensive manner to provide readers guides to the entire painting in detail with this book to render the interpretations of the North Song Dynasty as faithfully as possible to its original look and feel. We would like to apologize for any imperfection in researches and proofreading of this book. Regarding the arrangements of the contents in this book, it begins with three chapters “The Historic Values of Along the River During the Qingming Festival,” “Imperial Painting Academy (Hanlin Tuhua Yuan) during the North Song Society and the Painter Chang Ze-Duan,” and “Bianjing and Transportations on the River Bian at the North Song Dynasty” to present an overall view of the contents, painter, and historical background of this painting. In the “Conclusion” at the end of this book, the painting techniques and contents of this work are analyzed in detail to allow readers to understand the intentions of Chang Ze-Duan better. The reference section is attached to communicate the careful attitude of and the references cited by Cosmos Classics to show our respect for the writers and researchers. The major task of this book is to introduce this lengthy scroll. From right to left, it is divided into three parts in accordance with their themes “Leisure Atmosphere in the Suburb Greens,” “The Busy Water Transportation on River Bian,” and “The Prosperous Bianjing City.” According to their features, Along the River During the Qingming Festival is divided into forty zones. In the beginning of the essay, a lighted and focused thumbnail is provided to allow readers to understand the location of the discussions. In the essays, magnified graphics of the small zones are attached as illustrations to allow readers to observe every person and every corner carefully in detail. The major reference of this book The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor, which records the events happening between 1102 and 1125, during the time of prosperity of Bianjing from the year of Chongning to the year of Xuanhe of Hui Zhong of North Song Dynasty, during the years of the completion of this painting. In addition, history,journals and poetry written on Song Dynasty are also referenced to explain the characters, events and things portrayed in the painting, hoping to remain faithful to the theme. As to the professional parts, the Treatise on Architectural Methods or State Building Standards is consulted to compare with the structure of the architecture in the painting. The Exploitation of the Works of Nature is consulted to find out the structure of the boats. “On the Carts and Costumes” in Song History is consulted to pinpoint the making of the carts, sedan chairs and costumes of that period. The Eastern Capital: A Dream of Splendor is consulted to examine the social norms and the geographical location of the capital. Of course, reference books and articles on Along the River During the Qingming Festival are read to present a complete interpretation on the painting. The great Jiehua(Margin Painting) painter Chang Ze-Duan left us with the first hand materials of the image of capital city in the North Song Dynasty, including trade and commercial activities, costumes and social norms architectural style, furniture and vessels, transportation, and more. All of them are of high historical value. Moreover, its humanistic connotations and sensations allow us to read and re-read this painting. The closer we read it, the more we can find the painter’s intentions. It always impresses us with its infinite charms that echo in our hearts. Therefore, it is regarded as a classic in Chinese and world history of art. Ranked as one of the top ten Chinese paintings, it is also renowned as the “first and heavenly work in Chinese painting.” Viewing this picture Along the River During the Qingming Festival in the 21st century, it still wins our exclamations. This masterpiece has been passed down from generation to generation, having gone through wars and dynasties, and shifts in times, with unchanging values. Great paintings can always prevail over the limits of time and space to become immortal, demonstrating the beauty of aesthetics and universal human values. Although Along the River During the Qingming Festival is not the only painting that portrays the capital in Chinese history, it is the most complete painting that captures the social norms and characters of Bianjing in art history. From the illustrations, deconstructive interpretations, and plain and simple introduction of this book, readers can have a glimpse of the authentic picture of Bianjing during the North Song Dynasty. Reminiscing the past, Cosmos Classics has edited and released Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Chang Ze-Duan, a North Song Dynasty painter, in electronic book format. It is hoped that Chinese of this generation can converse with tradition to fuse the ancient with the modern. Reading the classics, we may be inspired to lay down milestones for modern arts. In addition, we are enthusiastic to share them globally to allow international people to immerse themselves in the beauty of Chinese arts.
This book contains analysis of different domains of contemporary art in China seen through the lens of the epistemological changes described in China Pluperfect I: Epistemology of Past and Outside in Chinese Art. It first looks at the concept of “ink art,” describing how it meant different things to different people in the former colony and how these different meanings came to determine certain institutional choices made at the beginning of the 21st century. The following chapters are dedicated to issues related to the urban and rural contexts for art creation in Mainland China and Hong Kong. One chapter observes the ups and downs of the representations of cities in the history of the People’s Republic of China and how they have defined a certain idea of culture. Another looks at how Chinese cities have been exceptional centers of art creations over the last thirty to forty years through the example of Shenzhen where a vibrant art scene, albeit closely connected to Hong Kong which has become a major art hub in the last two decades, has developed. The following is dedicated to the changing fortunes of art making in the countryside, observing how institutions in the Mainland and in Hong Kong have supported these practices very differently. Frank Vigneron finally considers how the different speeds of globalization, slow in the past and fast today, have determined some of the issues of past and outside in the present, particularly in the context of socially engaged art in both the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Over thousands of years, the art of Chinese painting has evolved, while also staying loyal to its traditional roots. Despite various schools of thought, styles and techniques, three primary categories have emerged across the discipline: landscape, figure and bird-and-flower. Using fine ink and water brush strokes on paper or silk, Chinese artists have developed a unique style—one that's famous throughout the world.This book highlights 50 Chinese paintings, pulled from museum collections in China and around the world, including British Museum (London), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas), Osaka City Museum of Art (Osaka), Palace Museum (Beijing), Palace Museum (Taibei) and Shanghai Museum. The paintings shown are representative of the categories, historical periods and styles of this artistic tradition.Detailed professional interpretations and notes allow readers to learn more about the pieces themselves, the artists and the context in which they were created. Plus, photo enlargements of key details get readers up close to these masterpieces.As one of the world's oldest continuous art forms, Chinese painting has a truly special history. This comprehensive guide allows modern readers to travel through time, experiencing important moments in Chinese history and society through beautiful pieces of artwork.
This book collects detailed knowledge and techniques on the identification and authentication of various Chinese antiques, including ancient coins, porcelain, bronzes, gems, calligraphy, ancient paintings, etc. The book is very detailed and authentic, providing readers with in-depth analysis of Chinese antiques, so that readers from scratch become proficient experts in the field.
The second volume dealing with ancient Chines cultural relics in the Qing Dynasty, 1644 to 1911. There are 375 relics. A continuation of Volume 9, dealing with the Qing Dynasty and describes paintings, calligraphy, embroidery and brocade, gold and silver ware and metal enamel ware and clocks. Paintings in this period can be divided into the early, middle and late stages. Early stage: Four Wangs painting school: Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi. Midle stage: representative artists include: Jiao Bingzhenb, Leng Mei, Tang Dai during Kangxi's reign,and Ding Guanpeng, Jin Tingbiao, Xu Yang, Zhang Zongcang, Jian Tingxi and Zou Yigui in Qianlong's reign. Late stage paintings of literati gradually declined. When the newly developed business cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, opened as trading ports, changes were made in themes and styles. New schools formed: 'Secoast School' in Shanghai and 'Ling,an School' in Guangzhou. The former group artists included: Xu Gu, Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo, while the other school included: Su Liupeng, Su Ren Sahn, Ju Chao and Ju Lian. This book, the tenth in a ten-volume collection, brings to the English-speaking world a series of books from China which has been complied by an Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics. There are 375 descriptions.
By referring to Cambridge IGCSE Chinese, Edexcel IGCSE Chinese (another two examination board) and HSK (Chicness Proficiency Test), combining our 25 years experience in Teaching and editing our own materials. Here is the “LIFE SAVING” book called by many students for their exams. It takes our years’ painful effort to edit. The book give a quick revision for your coming exam! Grab it! The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is based examination similar to GCSE and is recognized in the UK as being equivalent to the GCSE for the purposes of recognizing prior attainment. It was developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations. Cambridge programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. By referring June 2020 listening paper, we will giveL Listening Skills 听力技巧： Examination Skills & Explanations: 应试技巧
China’s development momentum will last for 200 more years. This book focused on China’s Economic System Reform and Opening-up to the Outside World, and answered the why, when, who, where, and how? The author used his observation and analysis to break down the Reform step by step. The story started from China’s national situation, followed by the kick-off, the operation, the policy, the little-known side of the senior decision-making process, and the organizational behaviors of the Communist Party of China. The Destiny of Chinese Nation and the development strategy are the unique achievements in China Studies. In 2009, the author presided over the program “The Planning of Economic and Cultural Industries Development of Xuanwu District, Beijing, 2009–2015.” He anticipated that the population of the Beijing metropolitan area shall be 70–100 million, and pointed out the necessity to build one more international airport in South Beijing. He also concluded the program “World Metropolis, Humanistic Beijing, and the Planning of the Cultural Finance during 2010–2015” by the same inferences. In 2014, the construction of Xiong An New District began. The Beijing Economic Circle has brought the prediction of 100-million population close to reality. On September 25, 2019, Beijing Da Xing International Airport was officially opened to traffic.
