Comprehensive Series on the Appraisal of Chinese Cultural Relics · Sculpture Identification

Author: Feng Hejun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1995-08-01
Features: As one of the series "Chinese Cultural Relic Identification," "Identification of Sculptures" may not strictly meet the requirements when examined from a rigorous perspective. One reason is that sculpture, in ancient times, was created by artisans of low status, and refined gentlemen were reluctant to engage in it. Unlike calligraphy, painting, bronze, jade, and other categories, which have a relatively systematic theory and method of identification, sculpture lacks such a framework. Another reason is that half of ancient sculptures were composed of deities (primarily religious statues), and falsification would lack sincerity. The other half consisted mostly of burial goods for the dead, unlike other cultural relics, which were invaluable and could be treasured as symbols of status, wealth, and elegance, making falsification clearly unworthwhile. A third reason is that cultural relic identification is always subjective—where one person sees wisdom, another sees ignorance—and it is difficult to establish a unified standard to apply consistently. Forcing the creation of rigid rules and regulations as eternal laws would only hinder problem-solving and serve as a source of ridicule and idle talk at tea parties. In light of this, the author strives to objectively introduce the development of ancient Chinese sculpture through historical artifacts and provides a simple analysis of its major categories from the perspectives of era, style, authenticity, and other aspects.