The+Rise+of+The+Tang+Dynasty+-+Research+Notes+-+Art,+Literature+and+Music


 * __Art, Literature and Music__: **

Paintings**
 * [[image:BeautyHarp.gif align="right"]]


 * Paintings, whether depicting scenery, or humans reached a higher state in the Tang Dynasty.
 * Most of the paintings were of landscape/scenery, and human shapes and faces.
 * Paintings expressed the painter's imaginative thoughts.
 * The landscape paintings were usually known as Shan(mountain)-Shui(water) paintings.
 * Landscape paintings were mostly monochromatic and not very dense.
 * Thin, water-based colours are usually used
 * usually painted on paper and silky surfaces to prevent ink and pigment from wetting and soaking the surface or the paint being absorbed by the surface.
 * Silk was more water-resistant, and allowed more use of special techniques.
 * Silk was much more expensive than paper, they were mostly used by the wealthy.
 * Paper was more porous. Paper was convenient to carry around.
 * A lot of black ink were used. This black ink was made by burning some kind of oil like pine tar.
 * Paint with colour are made from vegetable and minerals.
 * There was a great variety of brushes, with different sizes, thickness, and shapes.
 * The intention to grasp emotion, the momentum, or rather the rhythm of nature overpower the purpose to capture the appearence of nature.
 * The Tang people's social customs and everyday lift can be understood through the paintings. Some paintings can also influence people's emotions and beliefs.
 * Historians can better understand the life in the Tang dynasty through the paintings.
 * A small imprint(a red stamp-like figure)would indicate who was the painter, or occasionally who owned it. Most seals have the names in them. They were mostly square or round.


 * Opera

** [|**http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/features/chinaoverview/LiteratureandArt.html**]
 * Chinese opera first started in the Tang dynasty, when Emperor Tang XuanZong/Li Zhi founded the first kown opera group in China, the "Pear Garden". The "Pear Garden" performed during Emepror Tang XuanZong's leisure time.


 * Pottery**
 * The Chinese were experts in the art of pottery making.
 * A variety of pottery: painted pottery, carved pottery, and black pottery
 * Glazed pottery was popular during the Tang Dynasty


 * Dance**


 * Chinese dancing involves two major types: martial dances (dancing with weapons), and civil dances (dancing with empty hands).
 * Subcategories of dances: Sword Dance, Dragon Dance, Feather Fan Dance, Ribbon Dance, Silk Fan Dance
 * Courts dances were an important component of ceremonies. Many aristocrats had dancers perform at personal parties and formal get-together events, etc.
 * The Tang dances somewhat influenced the traditional dances of Korea, Japan, and Persia.
 * Dances usually involve a background story or theme.
 * Different dances from different regional groups have their own folk dances that tell their own tales.
 * Folk dances present the lifestyles and customs of the people.
 * In simple folk dances, dancers sometimes hold instruments and props, like axes, umbrellas, scarves, etc.
 * The Tang people's long sleeves and long scarves also contributed to the Tang's unique form of dancing.

Sources: [|**http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/features/chinaoverview/LiteratureandArt.html**]


 * Literature**

Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei were representative poets during this period →Li Bai is one of the most well known, and most influential chinese poets, romantic style, creative&depicting language, covered topics like: politics, nature, social issues, etc. →Du Fu wrote very realistic poems usually concerning social issues →Bai Ju Yi wrote very simple and clear, but had their own feeling and many of his works became classics Li Shang Yin wrote very pessismistic poems, partially because the falling empire at the time.
 * The Tang Dynasty represented the peak of Chinese poetry
 * More than 50,000 poems created, and more than 60 poets with their own individual styles, this was abnormal at the time
 * Usually in stanzas, 5 words per line or 7 words per line
 * Early Tang (618-712 AD)
 * Prosperous Tang (712-762AD) ←beginnings of Tang poetry ←The emperor was a poet himself, longest reigned
 * Mid Tang Mid-Tang (762-782AD) Representative poet: Bai Ju-Yi
 * Late Tang (782-907 AD) Representative poet: Li Shang Yin

The modification of pitch, rhythm, beat, tone and the composition in Traditional Chinese music are highly distinctive and different from the Western Music. This is mainly due to the unique sounds and playing styles of traditional Chinese musical instruments.
 * Music**

The Qin was a 5 to 10 string instrument, said to be one of the earliest instruments.
 * Traditional chinese music of the Tang Dynasty are highly distinctive from Western Music for their pitch, rhythem, beat, tone and melody, etc.
 * Unique instruments
 * 4 types of instruments: blown, bowed, plucked, struck ←this is much like the western musicical instruments
 * To produce unique and pure sounds [[image:http://blog.yuntech.edu.tw/userfilev4/17566/m-21(1).jpg width="232" height="201" align="right" caption="A "Pipa" - much like the western lute. "]]
 * The first chinese music was documented during the Tang Dynasty, it was composed for the "Qin".
 * The Zheng, similiar to the Qin, ranges widely in performance abilities, from ancient pieces to folk songs and operas.
 * The Pipa is much like a lute.
 * The Xiao is a bamboo flute, usually accompanies the Qin.
 * The Erhu's functions are similiar to those of the violin, the instrument was associated with the lower-class.

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 * Architecture

Sculpture** Religious purposes Works for the dead emperors Works to treat everyday subjects
 * Sculptures were made for many purposes:
 * Sculptures usually of human figurines, characters from famous tales/stories, and animals like horses, tigers, lions, etc.

Sources: []

Tang Dynasty China > The Rise of the Tang Dynasty > Research Notes > Art, Literature, and Music