Arts & Crafts of East Asia

Arts & Crafts of East Asia

• East Asia includes China and Korea.

Paper in China

• Paper originated in China during the Han Dynasty in 105 AD.
• Cai Lun, a court official, invented the papermaking process.
• The process uses rags (textile waste) as the main raw material.
• Paper a major contribution of ancient China to the development of arts.
• The Chinese have used paper for wrapping since the 2nd century BC.
• 3rd century AD saw paper become widely used for writing.
• Paper was used as toilet paper by the 6th century in China.
• During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), paper was folded into square bags to preserve the flavor of tea.

Chinese Calligraphy

• Calligraphy is a written form of Chinese which unites its language.
• Calligraphy utilizes simple pictorial images.
• The pictorial images show meaning through suggestions and imagination.

Sycee Currency

• Sycee means "fine silk"
• A type of currency made from gold or silver ingots was used in Ancient China until the 20th century.
• Chinese people use replicas of sycee as a symbol of prosperity.
• Sycee is always displayed, especially during the Chinese New Year.

Chinese Roofs

• Hip Roofs are considered one of the classiest Chinese traditional roof styles.
• All sides are sloping and they are used for special constructions.
• Hanging Hill Roofs have two straight overhanging slopes.
• Considered as the third-grade roofs of Chinese traditional roofs style.
• Hard Hill Roofs are a simple, low-grade style.
• These roofs have two slopes facing the front and back.
• Resting Hill Roofs are also known as XIE SHAN ROOF.
• Used for important buildings, halls, temples, and gardens in China.
• These have two curving sides.
• Resting Hill Roofs considered the second-grade style of Chinese roofs.

Maedeup in Korea

• Maedeup is the Korean word for decorative knot work.
• Maedeup is also called "DORAE" which means double connection knots.
• Maedeup knots are tighter than Chinese and Japanese knots.
• Maedeup knots are three dimensional compared to other East Asian knots.
• Maedeup has a longer tassel.
• Maedeup has the same shape at the front and back.
• Maedeup is bilaterally symmetrical.
• Knots of diverse colors were used as belts, identity tags, and as a decorative element on instruments.
• The most common use of knots were in Norigae, traditional Korean ornaments worn by women to decorate clothing.
• Norigae were used by all ages and social statuses to emphasize the beauty of Korean traditional costume.

Four Gracious Plants

• Four Gracious Plants are also known as the Four Gentlemanly Plants, or the Four Seasons symbols.

• The plants include plum blossoms, orchids or wild orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo

• The plants were originally Confucian symbols for the four qualities of a learned man.

• These are now more commonly associated with the four seasons.

• Plum blossoms symbolize courage.

• Orchids symbolize refinement.

• Chrysanthemums symbolize a productive and fruitful life.

• Bamboo symbolizes integrity.

• The four plants represent the seasons:

• Plum blossoms bloom bravely in the cold of an early spring.

• Orchids disseminate a dim fragrance far in the heat of summer.

• Chrysanthemums overcome the first cold of a late fall and bloom.

• Bamboo bares its green leaves even in the winter.

Korean Masks

• Korean masks are made from alder wood.
• The makers apply several coats of lacquer, to give the mask gloss and waterproof.
• The masks designed with paint.
• The masks sometimes include hinges for mouth movements.
• "TAL" is the Korean word for mask.
• The mask was a sacred symbol of the Gods for ancient Koreans.
• Traditional Korean masks were used by shamans for their rituals.
• Today such mask is used in cultural festivals, dances, and plays that are still performed as part of the nation's heritage.