78 Questions
What is the Taj Mahal primarily constructed with?
White marble
Which Islamic monument is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven?
Dome of the Rock
Which description best fits the Great Mosque, Iraq?
It has a cone-shaped minaret encircled by an outer ramp in the form of a spiral.
Which structure is known for its horseshoe-formed lower arches with white stone and red brick voussoirs?
Great Mosque of Cordoba
Who built the Taj Mahal?
Emperor Shah Jahan
Where is the Ka'aba located?
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Which city is considered the center of the Islamic world?
Mecca
Where did early Chinese settlements form?
Beside the Yellow, Wei, and Yangzi Rivers
Which philosophical belief emphasizes individualism and transcendence through direct connection with the natural world?
Taoism
What are the decoration characteristics of Taoist architecture?
Reflects the pursuit of luck, fulfillment, and longevity
Which of the following elements is NOT associated with Confucianism in architecture?
Resort to nature topography
What is typically represented by the dragon in Confucian architecture?
Emperor
What architectural element can be found only in the most magnificent buildings such as palace and temple halls?
Dougong bracket
How were the yellow tiles used in ancient Chinese architecture?
Exclusively for the emperor's buildings
Which of the following is NOT a decorative symbol in Confucian architecture?
Tiger
What shape is the central deepest part of the Zaojing or caisson ceiling?
Round
What is the primary purpose of a pagoda?
To preserve Buddhist relics
Which part of a pagoda often enshrines a statue of Buddha?
Body
What architectural structure is a Pai-lou?
A memorial archway
Which material is typically used to construct a Pai-lou?
Stone
What is a pavilion primarily used for?
Observation of the surrounding
Which part of the pagoda resembles the original image of the stupa from India?
Top
Which social class was considered the highest in the River in the south society?
scholar-gentry
During which period did the Shang Dynasty exist?
Shang Dynasty
What was Qin Shi Huangdi known for in the Qin Dynasty?
Unifying China with strict laws
Which material is jade a symbol of in Chinese culture?
vitality and authority
Which of the following describes Blue and white wares in porcelain?
Painted using cobalt oxide
What is notable about the Tang Dynasty?
Golden Age of Chinese Arts
Which dynasty is associated with the spread of Buddhism in China?
Han Dynasty
What are the main components of traditional Chinese architecture?
Podium, main body, and pitch roof
Which Chinese architectural landmark served as a home for 24 emperors for nearly 500 years?
The Forbidden City
Which landmark was built as a residence for the Dalai Lama and rises 200 meters against a hillside?
Potala Palace
In which year was Japan closed to outside world due to isolation from foreign influence?
1800 AD
What is the primary religion practiced in Japan?
Shinto
Which Japanese island is the principal one?
Honshu
What material primarily constitutes the hilly and forested geography of Japan?
Granite
Which type of Japanese painting is based on geometric forms rather than the fluid forms of China?
Yamato
Which Chinese architectural landmark served as a means of communication?
The Great Wall of China
Which type of decoration involves the use of glass pieces assembled into a pattern?
Glass mosaic
What is the term for the tower from which the call to prayer is made in a mosque?
Minaret
What feature of a mosque indicates the direction towards Mecca?
Qibla wall
Which part of a mosque houses the praying niche?
Mihrab
What is the term for the raised platform used for ceremonial announcements in a mosque?
Minbar
What fundamental feature of a mosque is often cloistered or arcaded?
Sahn
What is the main purpose of a Madrasah in Islamic architecture?
Theological school
Which architectural landmark is located in Jerusalem?
The Dome of the Rock
What is Makimono painting executed on?
Horizontal silk rolls
Which medium features heavily in the Ukiyo-e genre?
Woodblock prints
What demand did the new craze for tea ceremony create?
Pottery vessels
Which pattern is characterized by strong floral and brocade designs in heavily saturated colors?
Imari pattern
What tool is used in the tea ceremony to whisk the tea?
Chasen
Which of the following is characterized by a decorative curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard?
Katana
What is the art form involving cultivating miniature trees called?
Bonsai
What is the Japanese art of folding paper?
Origami
Which of the following features is NOT characteristic of Japanese architecture?
Heavy, solid structures
What is the purpose of a Torii Gateway in a Shinto shrine?
To serve as a gateway along the approach path
Which of the following structures is found in front of the honden in a Shinto shrine?
Haiden
In Japanese Buddhist temples, where are sacred texts read?
Kodo
What is the primary feature of the Ise Shrine?
Golden Hall
What is the main purpose of a Shinto temple?
For the enshrinement and worship of a kami
Which of the following is NOT a part of Japanese Buddhist architecture?
Honden
What does Shintoism aim to achieve with purification, prayers, and offerings?
To keep away evil spirits
Which architectural feature is found in a Japanese Buddhist temple?
Principal hall
What is the traditional Japanese tea house called?
Cha-shitsu
Which landmark enshrines the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami?
Ise Shrine
Which structure is known for having 6 storeys and curving eaves?
Himeji Castle
Which period saw the advent of the first public baths in Japan?
Nara Period
What is the Ilocano native term for large earthenware vessels?
Burnay
What was the Manunggul jar used for?
Funerary purposes
What is the Vigan tile associated with?
Spanish Colonial houses
What is T'nalak cloth woven from?
Abacá fibers
Which weaving technique is characterized by a resist dyeing process used on either the warp or weft before weaving?
Ikat
What does the design of Binacol weaving represent?
Waves of the sea
What is a prominent characteristic of Ifugao Ikat weaving?
Diamond stripes of white and red
In which region is PIS SIYABIT typically used, and by whom?
Sulu Archipelago, by Tausug men
What is Inaul fabric associated with?
Technicolour geometric weaves
What distinguishes Inabel/Abel Iloco weaving technique?
Floral designs
What weaving tradition is known for its psychedelic optical art designs?
Binacol
Study Notes
History of Art and Architecture
Vaulting
- Decorations in vaulting: moldings, friezes, carvings, stone inlay, mosaic, patterned brickwork, carved stucco, ceramic facing, glass mosaic, painting, timber inlay, Arabesques, and decorative bonding for brickwork.
Types of Architecture
- Mosque/Masjid: a place for worship, with a inward-looking building, no positive object of attention, and a cloistered or arcaded courtyard.
- House with courtyard: a residential building with a central courtyard.
- Fortress: a fortified building for defense.
- Madrasah: a theological school, arranged around a courtyard.
Parts of a Mosque
- Sahn: courtyard of a mosque.
- Haram: covered area in front of the qibla wall.
- Mihrab: niche oriented towards Mecca, indicating the direction of prayer.
- Dikka: a tribune raised upon columns from which the Koran is recited.
- Maqsura: an enclosure in a mosque, made of an openwork screen.
- Minbar: a raised platform for ceremonial announcements.
- Iwan: an open-fronted vault facing a court.
- Minaret: a tower from which a call to prayer is made.
- Qibla wall: axis oriented towards Mecca.
- Bab: a gateway.
- Musalla: the central area for prayer.
Architectural Landmarks
- Taj Mahal, India: a white marble tomb with a multi-patterned ceramic exterior.
- Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem: a historic Islamic monument.
- Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain: a mosque with a prayer hall featuring double arcades.
- Great Mosque, Iraq: a mosque with a cone-shaped minaret.
- Alhambra, Spain: a palace and fortress.
Chinese Art
Historical Background
- Early settlements in the Yellow River, Wei River, and Yangzi River.
- Four main social classes: scholar-gentry, peasants, artisans, and merchants.
Periods
- Neolithic (6000-1700 BC)
- Eritou period (2000-1600 BC)
- Shang Dynasty (1650-1050 BC)
- Zhou Dynasty (1050-221 BC)
- Qin Dynasty (221 BC-AD 207)
- Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)
- Kingdoms (265-420)
- Northern dynasties (386-581)
- Southern Dynasties (420-589)
- Sui Dynasty (581-618)
- Tang Dynasty (618-908)
Shang Dynasty
- Known for bronze casting.
- Royal family lived in a walled palace.
Qin Dynasty
- Unified China by implementing strict laws, taxing everyone, and introducing a standard script.
- Ordered the burning of scholarly books.
Han Dynasty
- Founded by Lui Bang.
- Controlled the Silk Road, and Buddhism started to spread.
- Extended ancient Chinese boundaries.
Tang Dynasty
- Golden Age of Chinese Arts.
Architecture
Types of Chinese Art
- Porcelain: a ceramic material made by heating raw materials.
- Blue and white wares: glazed using a transparent porcelain glaze.
- Blanc de Chine: a type of white porcelain.
- Polychrome Colored porcelain: a type of porcelain with multiple colors.
- Jade ware: a symbol of vitality and authority.
- Calligraphy: Chinese writing done on silk and paper.
- Paintings: made on paper and silk, usually in long scroll forms.
Principles in Chinese Architecture
- Taoism: emphasizes individualism and transcendence.
- Confucianism: emphasizes strict adherence to social conventions and rituals.
- Buddhism: a path of practice and spiritual development.
Taoism in Art and Architecture
- Decoration reflects Taoist pursuit of luck and fulfillment.
- Use of natural topography to build towers, pavilions, and gardens.
Confucianism in Art and Architecture
- Yin-Yang: balance and symmetry.
- Feng shui: traditional concepts of five elements.
- Number nine: especially applied in imperial architecture.
- Concentric or symmetrical shapes.
- Significance of colors: yellow, green, red, and phoenix.
Architectural Elements
- Dougong bracket: a structural member found between the top of a column and across beam.
- Curved roof: a characteristic of Chinese architecture.
- Glazed tiles: used exclusively on palace buildings and big mansions.
- Zaojing or caisson ceiling: a decorative ceiling.
Presence of garden or landscaping
- Use of natural topography to build towers, pavilions, and gardens.
Japanese Art
Historical Background
- Chinese influence.
- Feudalism with castes of emperor, nobles, shoguns, and military.
- Isolation from foreign influence for 200 years.
- Religions: Shinto, Buddhism.
- Geography: Principal island, Honshu; smaller islands at north and south.
- Prevalence of earthquakes.
- Hilly and forested country.
- Un-stratified volcanic stone.
Types of Japanese Art
- Paintings: drew direct inspiration from China.
- Yamato: a national style of painting based on geometric forms.
- Kakemono: a painting executed on a vertical silk roll.
- Makimono: a painting executed on a horizontal silk roll.
- Wood-block prints (Ukiyo-e): a genre of Japanese woodblock prints.
- Ceramics: created a demand for pottery vessels.
Japanese Architecture
- Made of wood.
- Indigenous religious sensibility.
- Adaptable to climate and topography.
- Flexible.
- Open space.
Shintoism
- Shinto: "the way of the gods".
- Kami: Shinto gods.
- No founder.
- Purification, prayers, and offerings to the kami.
Architectural Forms
- Shinto Temples (Jinja): the main purpose is for the enshrinement and worship of a kami.
- Torii Gateways: open gateways, consisting of two pillars and an architrave.
- Honden: building that contains the body of the goshintai.
- Haiden: hall of worship of the Shinto shrine.
Buddhist Temples
- Complex group of monastic buildings.
- Pagodas: reliquary.
- Kodo: lecture hall.
- Kondo: image hall.
Filipino Art
Pre-colonial Period Art
- Pottery: found in the Tabon Caves of Palawan.
- Weaving: T'nalak, Ikat, Binacol, Inabel/Abel Iloco, and Inaul.
Architectural Landmarks
- Ise Shrine: the oldest Shinto temple in Japan.
- Himeji Castle: the most impressive of the fortified residences.
Explore the various decorations and types of architecture used in Islamic buildings, including mosques, vaulting, and more. Learn about the different techniques and styles used in Islamic art and architecture.
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