|
The Age of Bureaucracy
When the Sung came into power in China in 960A.D. after an army mutiny, it was evident that if this government had sufficient time, they could change all details of Chinese life. The Sung gave way for future empires that continued its path, until 1850, when events led up to the Taiping Rebellion. These men in government were scholar- officials, and beginning with equalization in government and spreading to other aspects of society, they led Chinas culture to move together. The arts flourished throughout these times and they reflect directly how the rest of Chinas culture was developing.
The literature of early Sung times reflects the fact that with scholars in the government, work and activities of scholars were widely practiced. There was an abundance of writing and enough printing available to distribute literature. Ceramics' techniques had been mastered, and the west yearned for the porcelain ware China was producing. The literature and arts were quality, but also expressed simply. Economy was changing into an almost modern state. Landholders had enough money to invest in other urbanizing things as well as supporting the arts. The social changes coincided with the other changes happening. Farmers and more of the lower standing population could afford to school their eldest boy, increasing the educated, as well as the literate. Painting became so prevalent and a part of daily life for a scholar that two separate schools were founded. Northern and Southern Sung were two different ways to approach learning and painting. Very serious students emerged from these schools to produce important pieces.
When the Northern invasions shifted the power, the change among society remained small. In Liao times, the government was not concerned with scholars or their literature. The development was not hindered and writing continued to be produced. The conservative thought of the government did filter out some painters with strict attempt. Calligraphy was still a stable art form, and in Yuan times, incorporated into landscape art. While these times were good, and the poor had enough to eat, the population was increasing rapidly. Art and literature were abundant in Lioa, Chin, and Yuan times, as society felt more free to express themselves and had the means to concentrate on art. In the Yuan times, urbanization did steady, but the population was already too high.
Art and literature in Ming and Ching progressed along with the society and economy of the times, eventually slacking off by 1850. The government was trying to correct the mistakes of the last government and trying to reinstate certain ways. The arts and literature were not stimulated, and did not react, therefore, leveled out. That was the end of producing art in the same way ever again. After the Taiping rebellion, all aspects of Chinese culture changed.
During the Sung times, when China was experiencing an uplift in the economy, society and the arts were following the curve. Art became part of everyday life for an educated man, but when economy suffered from the overpopulation, the arts were put aside. Literature has always been studied by the scholars, even if new work was not being produced. The West has largely regarded the arts of the Sung almost all the way through the Ching as great advances and are admi#P
中国论文网
Word Count: 547
|
|
