Daoism Influence in Han Dynasty, Outline Example

Introduction and thesis statement

Throughout the Chinese history and culture, the Han Dynasty has served as the golden age. Within this time period the culture embraced music, literature, poetry, and visual works of art. Daoist ideas such as immortality, and spiritually was influential not only throughout Han Dynasty, but in key pieces of art which carried on for many centuries.For Daoism it was influential throughout its politics, religion, and more importantly in its artwork. Daoism used many mediums such as bronze, jade, silk, paper, and much more. Daoism was immensely popular in celebrating the concepts of the supernatural which is used throughout its art.

Han Dynasty

• History of Han Dynasty
• Works of Art pre-Han Dynasty
• Zhou Bronzes, Jiaguwen, and Jinwen
• Brief history of Han Dynasty
• Retention of the Legalist Model
• Society Way of Life.
• Important inventions in the Han Dynasty.

Daoism

• Brief History of Daoism
• Daoism Religion.
• Daoism focus on worshiping different deities, immortality, and ghosts.
• Daoism influence on Art was related to the doctrines, their ceremonial observances, and their beliefs in gods.
• Daoism influence in Art
• Types of Artwork that Daoism influenced
• Funerary Tomb Art (Found on Han graves and tombs using terracotta sculpture such as yong or ming-chi.
• Jade Carving, used jade cutting and goldsmithing that had religious meaning. Believed to be mystical, and life giving.
• Sculptures and Painting. Bronze horses and miniature bronze statues of women and men.

Comparing Daoist Art Work

• Ideals Found in Han Dynasty Daoist Art
• These art works highlighted the religious visual expression in bamboo, funeral banners, and silk paintings.
• Other artworks illustrated its affinity for bronze statues such as the Incense burner (boshan) from the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng, or Censer in the Shape of Mount Bo (Boshanlu)
• Their importance is due to the imagery of deities high in the clouds, and dragons in which dwell on the mountainscape.
• Daoist images used in works of Arts.
• Images such as Tianlu (Tomb Guardian) that was made to guard the tomb of the emperor, and mythological creature.
• Bixie (Mythical Animal) Made from bronze was influenced by the supernatural faith in mythical animals.

Conclusion

The Han Dynasty served as a time of many great inventions and innovations. Daoism was the popular faith in which celebrated many gods, as well as immortality, and death. Their ideals of immortality and the supernatural is illustrated through several works of art on numerous mediums, which have been used throughout the Chinese culture.

Annotated Bibliography

Girardot, N.J. Myth and Meaning in Early Daoism: The Theme of Chaos (hundun). Lulu.Com. 2008. Book.

Within this book, the author explores the Daoist’s texts that shows the comparative history of the different religions during the different Chinese dynasties.  The work of the author is important to the topic at hand because it provides some of the ideals and meanings of Daoism during the Han dynasty.

Jianlong, Liu. “An Outline of Daoist Art.” Chinese-Art. Com. Liaoning Provincial Museum. Oct. 2000. Web. 30 January 2015. http://www.chineseart.com/Traditional/v2i3/liujianlong_textonly.htm

Jianlong provides the essay with some supporting information on Daoism influence in art during the Han dynasty. Jianlong provides a brief background on the concepts of Daoism that focuses on the practice of worshiping immortals, ghosts, and deities. (Jianlong) This research is important because it discusses the different styles of Daoist art through Chinese history.

Yi’e, Wang. “The Origins of Daoist Art.” Chinese-Art.Com. Volume 2, Issue 2. October 2000. Web. 30 January 2015. http://www.chinese-art.com/Traditional/v2i3/wangyie_textonly.htm

Yi’e provides historical information about the Daoist faith; more particularly, she also provides needed information about Daoist faith. Yi’e’s information is pertinent to establishing the thesis in which reflects during the Han Dynasty how Daoism was important to illustrate the society and way of life back then.

Littlejohn, Ronnie. “Daoist Philosophy.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.d. Web. 30 January 2015. http://www.iep.utm.edu/daoism/#H9

Much like the other sources, Littlejohn provides a brief history on Daoism, and how it translated throughout the dynasty in the forms of art, politics, and religion. Daoism was not only important to ideology, but also sciences in the form of alchemy, astronomy and cosmology, and an intertwine of Confucianism.

Kohn, Livia. Daoism Handbook. Brill. 2000. Book.

Within this book, the author provides information research that details not only the history of Daoism, but also its influence in the Han Dynasty. Giving special attention to Daoist art, from the simplest of manuscripts and religious texts, to lacquer paintings. Kohn’s text is significant to comparing the different works of art during the Han dynasty, and the influential ideas behind the visual pieces.

Moeller, Hans-Georg. Daoism Explained: From the Dream of the Butterfly to the Fishnet Allegory. Open Court. 2013. Book.

Moeller provides a detailed look at Daoist artwork, and it influences in Eastern philosophy. This information focuses on providing a foundation that discusses the importance of Daoist artwork, as well as the meanings behind different works of art.