Zhou Style
Zhou Style refers to the distinctive artistic and cultural expressions that emerged during the late Zhou Dynasty in ancient China, a period characterized by both turmoil and significant development in the arts and philosophies like Confucianism and Daoism. Despite the era's unrest, it witnessed a transformation in artistic practices, moving away from the ceremonial bronzes of the Shang and early Zhou periods to innovative forms such as bells and mirrors. Craftspeople began to experiment with various materials, incorporating gold, silver, and semiprecious stones into bronze works, which often featured intricate designs like intertwining snakes and dragons. Additionally, this era saw the evolution of painting, although few examples have survived, depicting historical scenes and figures. Lacquerware became prominent, particularly in southern China, leveraging a unique technique that resulted in lightweight, waterproof objects. The use of jade also expanded for funerary and ritual purposes, while pottery techniques were refined with new shapes and finishes. Overall, Zhou Style is representative of a rich cultural legacy that influenced numerous artistic mediums during a pivotal time in Chinese history.
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Zhou Style
Related civilizations: Zhou Dynasty, China.
Date: c. 771-256 b.c.e.
Locale: Shandong Province, through Henan, Hubei, and Hunan Provinces
Zhou Style
Although the late Zhou (JOH) Dynasty was marked by unrest and warfare, it also was a time when Confucianism and Daoism flourished. The arts flourished, performing new roles in society and becoming more refined. The bronzes of the Shang period and the early Zhou period, mostly ceremonial wine and food vessels, were replaced by new shapes such as bells and mirrors that reflected different uses.
During the late Zhou period, a variety of new materials came to be used as Chinese craftspeople expanded their knowledge of techniques and raw materials. Bronzes were delicately inlaid with gold, silver, and semiprecious stones. Pictorial subjects, such as playful, intertwining snakes and dragons, decorated the backs of bronze mirrors. The Zhou style could be found in almost every medium. Paintings from this period (few of which survive) depicted people and historic scenes. Lacquerware most likely developed in the south part of China during this period. The technique of layering fine cloth and lacquer mixed with color pigments to form objects that were light and waterproof is best demonstrated by Changsha wares. Jade was used for funerary and ritual objects, and new shapes and finishes were added to the existing pottery tradition.
Bibliography
Li, Xuebin. Eastern Zhou and Qin Dynasties. Translated by K. C. Chang. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1985.
Watson, William. The Arts of China to a.d. 900. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1995.