Chinese Religious Art

Chinese Religious Art is a broad survey of the origins and development of the various forms of artistic expression of Chinese religions. The study begins with an overview of ancient archaeology in order to identify nascent religious ideologies in various Neolithic Cultures and early Chinese historical eras including the Shang dynasty (1300-1050 BCE) and Zhou Dynasty(1000-221 BCE) up until the era of the First Emperor (221-210 BCE) Part Two treats Confucianism as a religious tradition examining its scriptures, images, temples and rituals. Adopted as the state ideology in the Han dynasty, Confucian ideas permeated society for over two thousand years. Filial piety, ethical behavior and other principles shaped the pictorial arts. Part Three considers the various schools of Daoist belief and their expression in art. The ideas of a utopian society and the pursuit of immortality characterize this religion from its earliest phase. Daoism has an elaborate pantheon and ritualistic art, as well as a secular tradition best expressed in monochrome ink painting. Part Four covers the development of Buddhist art beginning with its entry into China in the second century. Its monuments-comprised largely of cave temples carved high in the mountains along the frontiers of China and large metropolitan temples -provide evidence of its evolution including the adoption of savior cults of the Buddha of the Western Paradise, the Buddha of the Future, the rise of Ch'an (Zen) and esoteric Buddhism. In their development, these various religious traditions interacted, sharing art, architecture, iconography and rituals. By the twelfth century a stage of syncretism merged all three traditions into a popular religion. All the religions are reviving after their extirpation during the Cultural Revolution. Using historical records and artistic evidence, much of which has not been published, this study examines their individual and shared manner of worshipping the divine forces.

Patricia Eichenbaum Karetzky is the O. Munsterberg Chair of Asian Art at Bard College, New York and Adjunct Professor at City College of New York. She has published numerous books and articles on Chinese culture in general and in particular on Chinese religious art, notably Buddhist and Daoist aesthetic traditions. She was editor of the Journal of Chinese Religions for five years.

Introduction
Part 1: The Beginnings of Chinese Religious Art
Chapter 1: Neolithic Period to Shang Dynasty
Chapter 2: Ceremonial Art of the Zhou Dynasty
Chapter 3: The Religious Art of the Chu Culture
Chapter 4: The First Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
Part 2: Confucian Art
Chapter 5: The Development of Confucianism in the Han (206 bce -220 ce)
Chapter 6: Confucian Art in Medieval China Six Dynasties to Song Dynasty ( 221-1279)
Chapter 7: Confucian Art Yuan to Qing Dynasties (1279-1911)
Chapter 8: Confucian Temples
Part 3: Daoist Art
Chapter 9: Daoist Art of the Han Dynasty (206 bce -220 ce)
Chapter 10: Daoist Art of the Medieval Period, Tang and Song Dynasties (618-1279)
Chapter 11: Daoist Art of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (1279-1911)
Chapter 12: Daoist Ritual and Temples
Part 4: Buddhist Art
Chapter 13: Early Buddhist Chinese Art 1-23 (386-618)
Chapter 14: Buddhist Art of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Chapter 15: Later Buddhist Art 1-41 (Song- Qing Dynasties (960-1911)
Chapter 16: Buddhist Te