Wuliang Temple: The Ideological Aspects of Ancient Chinese Portrait Art

Author: Wu Hung (USA), translated by Liu Yang and Cen He
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Taking the stone reliefs from the Wu Liang Temple in Jiaxiang, Shandong as a typical example, the book provides an in-depth analysis of the commonalities and individualities of Han Dynasty temple art, vividly and profoundly revealing the essence and evolutionary patterns of Han burial art. It presents readers with a mysterious and enigmatic picture of the beliefs in ghosts and deities in Han society. The research in this book addresses four main aspects that have emerged from previous studies of the Wu Liang Temple, each of which is extremely important for future academic progress. Aspect one is the inventory and documentation of the remains of the Wu family burial ground. Although these remains are crucial materials for studying Han Dynasty image art, many issues such as conflicting dating, the attribution of the temple, and cataloging remain unresolved. Additionally, problems like incorrect transcription of inscriptions add to the confusion. By re-examining excavation records, previous documentation, and restoration designs, this book aims to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of the Wu Liang Temple and its original context—the Wu family burial ground.