Art in Etiquette: Selections from the Writings of Wu Hung on Ancient Chinese Art History, Volume 1 and 2

Author: Wu Hung
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This book selects and translates 31 papers published by Professor Wu Hung of renowned art history since 1985. These papers revolve around the fundamental concept of "ritual art" and discuss various art traditions and forms in ancient and medieval Chinese art, including pottery, jade, and bronze ritual objects from prehistoric times to the Three Dynasties, tomb art from the Eastern Zhou onwards, and the emergence and early development of Buddhist and Daoist art. These papers extensively utilize archaeological and documentary evidence to expand the breadth and depth of art history research. The author combines anthropological and sociological theories and methodologies to explore the composition of various visual forms such as architecture, sculpture, reliefs, and artifacts, as well as their organic connection to human behavior and thought. The analysis no longer focuses on isolated objects and images but includes the reconstruction of visual environments and the examination of the creative motivations, social contexts, ritual functions, and audience responses of artworks. The discussions in the articles are often conducted on two levels—besides examining specific historical issues, they also reflect on the relevant academic history and research methodologies. A significant number of papers explore ancient Chinese art from the perspective of comparative cultural history, highlighting the importance of its unique materiality and visual traditions in rethinking the narrative structure of the history of Chinese art. In the Western academic world, these articles have had a significant impact on recent research on ancient Chinese art. This book is the first systematic introduction to Professor Wu Hung's academic achievements in China. It is divided into four parts: Art from Prehistoric to Pre-Qin Times, Han Dynasty Art, Medieval Buddhist and Daoist Art, and the Evolution of Ancient Art. An interview transcript and a list of paper sources are appended at the end. The book is illustrated with over 600 images, including photographs, rubbings, line drawings, and maps of ancient artworks.