Chinese Art History (Acrobatics Volume)

Author: Shi Zhongwen, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: A History of Chinese Art holds significant practical and historical value for China's modernization efforts, promoting the cultural spirit of the Chinese nation, disseminating Chinese culture and art history to the world, facilitating cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West, flourishing China's cultural publishing industry, materializing decades of research achievements by scholars and artists across generations, and revisiting, summarizing, restoring, and recreating the original of Chinese art history. It is particularly important for the academic research since the May Fourth New Culture Movement, especially since the Reform and Opening-Up. This book is the Acrobatics volume of A History of Chinese Art.
Acrobatics initially appeared as extraordinary skill activities in the forms of production, combat, rituals, and games. Over time, it developed into an independent performing art. Some acrobatic performances have retained their inherent characteristics even after becoming art. The origin of these extraordinary skills, apart from primal thinking and the mystical influence of religion, stems from human courage, diligence, creative wisdom, and an endless pursuit. Throughout its long history, human aesthetic needs have endowed various skills with aesthetic qualities, making them the essence of our national art. The ever-enriching acrobatic art can inspire wisdom, regulate emotions, motivate the body and mind, and serve as an important medium for spreading humanistic spirit. Historically, it was incorporated into the cultural system of rites and music, while also absorbing and integrating other cultures, especially religion, literature, drama, dance, sports, and folk culture. This has given it complex connotations and manifestations, producing a distinctive national style and characteristics.