Chinese culture. Features of Chinese culture. Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures on the planet. It was she who laid the foundation for such religions - presentation. Artistic culture of China. For several thousand years in the territory of China

Slide 4

One of the distinctive features of ancient Chinese mythological historicization is the (euhemerization) of mythical characters, who, under the influence of the rationalistic Confucian worldview, very early began to be interpreted as real figures of ancient times. The main characters turned into rulers and emperors, and the minor characters into dignitaries, officials, etc.

Slide 5

The euhemerization of myths also contributed to the process of anthropomorphization of heroes characteristic of Chinese mythology, which continued in folk mythology until late times. Totemistic ideas played a major role. Thus, the Yin tribes considered the swallow to be their totem, and the Xia tribes considered the snake to be their totem. Gradually, the snake transformed into a dragon (lun), commanding rain, thunderstorms, the water element and simultaneously associated with underground forces, and the bird, probably, into fenghuang - a mythical bird - a symbol of the empress (the dragon became a symbol of the empress).

Slide 6

The dragon is a cultural symbol of the Chinese people

Slide 7

Slide 8

Architecture

Slide 9

Ancient China is also famous for its unique monuments of architecture and art. Quirky structures, interesting rooftops, rich palaces of emperors and exquisitely decorated temples.

Slide 10

Slide 11

Qin Shi Huangdi

Slide 12

The largest example of the burial of emperors is the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, fifty kilometers from Xi'an, built within ten years after the emperor's accession to the throne in the 3rd century. BC e. The tomb is surrounded by high walls that form a square - a symbol of the earth, and the grave mound itself - a round symbol of the sky. The vaults are reinforced with copper beams, the floor is made of stone slabs on which a relief map of China is depicted. The walls are lined with marble and jade slabs, and the ceiling is a starry sky. Around the sarcophagus made of pure gold are household utensils, jewelry, and weapons of the emperor that surrounded him during his life.

Slide 13

Ancient burial was not limited to just the tomb. At a distance of one and a half kilometers from the mound, there are eleven underground tunnels containing an eight-thousand-strong clay army, in which each warrior is made life-size, preserving his individual features. This "terracotta army", called the eighth wonder of the world, is accompanied by war chariots, ceramic horses and bronze weapons. ditches with clay troops occupy an area of ​​20 thousand square meters. m.

Slide 14

Slide 15

Slide 16

the great Wall of China

Slide 17

According to various sources, the length of the Chinese wall ranges from 2500 to 6800 m, in any case it is the most ambitious defensive structure that has survived to this day. The height of the wall ranges from 6.6 to 10 m, width - from 5.5 to 8 m. Construction began in the 3rd century. BC e. to the 17th century n. e.

Slide 18

Songyuesi Temple

Buddhist monasteries began to play an important role in the cultural and political life of China. By the 6th century There were about 30 thousand of them on the territory of the Wei kingdom. Grandiose monastery complexes were carved into rocks, similar to Indian ones. Wooden temples and high multi-tiered towers - pagodas (Sunyuesa Pagoda) were also built, in which Buddhist relics were kept. The formative stage of Buddhist art in China is best represented by two groups of cave temples in the north: Yungang (Temple of the Cloudy Heights) in Shanxi Province and Longmen (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang, in Henan Province.

Slide 19

Writing

Slide 20

Not only architecture, but also writing and literature actively developed. Beautiful calligraphic handwriting, which was used to write numerous hieroglyphs, was especially valued in China.

Slide 21

Slide 22

Art

Slide 23

Chinese art developed in a wide variety of directions. Only in this country could one find craftsmen who perfectly produced the finest silk, or potters famous for the production of decorative porcelain. Chinese painters could paint not only the walls of temples and palaces, but also small ceramic and fabric items. Chinese woman cut out a paper picture for five years

Slide 24

Chinese national painting appeared in ancient times and reached its full flowering in the Middle Ages. It is distinguished by great originality and is completely different in material, technique and artistic means from European painting. Chinese paintings are painted with ink. Mineral and vegetable paints such as watercolors on silk (sometimes on cotton or hemp fabric). Artists use brushes of different sizes, from very thin to very thick (from 5 millimeters to 5 centimeters). A stroke can be as light as a cloud or as powerful as a dragon. The drawings are usually supplemented with Chinese characters.

Slide 25

All Chinese painting, the variety of Chinese paintings created over many centuries, can be classified into the following genres:1. Hua-nyao – “flower-birds”, which is characterized by a reflection of the beauty of natural components, their harmony, as well as the interaction of natural elements and humans. Each depicted element of nature carried meaning and a certain meaning. For example, peonies symbolized wealth, pines - longevity, peaches - immortality - thus the artist, with his painting, wished all kinds of benefits to the people around him.2. Zhenwu - “people” - covers portrait drawing, historical, palace, everyday, urban subjects, as well as illustrations of traditions and legends. The artists paid special attention to writing character, atmosphere and new aspects for that time, including the ideal of female beauty. This motif is first traced in the works of Zhou Fang, who lived at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries.3. Shan Shui - “mountains and waters” - works of this genre symbolize the unity and struggle of opposites yin and yang (dark feminine and light masculine, respectively).

Slide 26

Slide 27

Slide 28

Slide 29

Slide 30

Porcelain

Slide 31

Each porcelain piece was an independent work of art. For a long time, people outside of China did not know how porcelain was made. This was the secret and pride of the Tang Empire. Famous poets even dedicated poems to it (porcelain). In the VII-XI centuries. the most famous were the Xingzhou kilns (Hebei province), which supplied snow-white, smooth, round-shaped vessels to the imperial court. Along with porcelain, tricolor ceramics san cai (“three colors”), covered with glazes of green, brown and golden yellow, were also highly valued. Ceramics XI-XII centuries. more refined and diverse. As in the painting of this time, the brightness of the colors in it was replaced by elegant simplicity and softness of color transitions. The vessels are distinguished by harmonious proportions and delicate gray-green and gray-blue shades. Song ceramists were inspired artists. In modest bowls, vases and goblets of iridescent gray-green tones, in streaks of paint and cracks that accidentally appeared during firing, they were able to capture the life of nature itself and give artistic meaning to random defects.

Slide 32

Silk

Slide 33

Evidence that silk began to be produced in China comes from the results of archaeological excavations. For example, the oldest silkworm cocoon found with traces of processing rested in the soil of one of the northern provinces of China from approximately the second millennium BC. The elements of the found loom are approximately the same age. For a long time, the history of silk meandered across the expanses of the Chinese provinces, leaving the country only in the form of a finished piece of material and heading along the Great Silk Road, which connected East Asia and the Mediterranean, starting from the second century BC.

Slide 34

Shadow play

Slide 35

Chinese shadow theater is a theatrical art in China that has overcome the language barrier and has become widespread not only in Asian countries, but also in Europe. Shadow theater is also called puppet theater. This is due to the fact that the characters in such a theatrical performance are skillfully made puppets. At the beginning of their development, these were painted paper dolls, but gradually the method of making them became more complicated. How does the performance take place?1. A screen and lighting are installed so that the shadows of the figures involved in the performance fall on the canvas. In this case, the figures are almost pressed against the screen itself, and their coloring becomes visible. 2. Subjects for the presentation can be tales of wizards, legends, traditions, historical sagas, novels that are understandable to a wide range of viewers.3. The performance is accompanied not only by dialogues, but also by music.4. Weather conditions are often played out in the plot: rain, wind, sun seem real.

Description of the presentation by individual slides:

1 slide

Slide description:

2 slide

Slide description:

The culture of China was significantly influenced by the attitude towards nature as an organic whole living according to its own laws. Human life was constantly measured against the life of nature, its cycles, rhythms and states. Chinese civilization is one of the most ancient on Earth. In its development, it went through a huge period of time, starting from the 4th millennium BC. until now.

3 slide

Slide description:

The most important achievements of China 1. Invention of paper According to Chinese chronicles, the inventor of paper is considered to be Cai Lun, an official at the court of the emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who lived in the 2nd century AD. In 105 AD, he presented the emperor with paper made from tree bark. Chinese sources mention that he was a eunuch. They also indicate that the emperor was very pleased to learn about Cai Lun's invention. As a result, he was promoted, received an aristocratic title and became a rich man. Before the invention of paper, stones, tree leaves and bark, animal skins and bones, and fabrics were often used as writing materials. The invention of paper by Tsai Lun in China served as an impetus for the further development of civilization.

4 slide

Slide description:

2. Printing 中国大发明。印刷术 Even in ancient times, in China, a seal with carved family hieroglyphs instead of a signature was used to identify an official or a master. Carving hieroglyphs on stone seals has always been considered not only skill, but also a refined art. This matter received real development thanks to the statesman Shen Ko, when in 1088 he made a detailed written description of the entire printing process by creating written characters from baked clay and typesetting. The advent of paper made it possible not only to document in detail their history and cultural traditions for centuries, but also gave birth to a new great invention of the Chinese. The most ancient printed book is considered to be the Diamond Sutra, which was created during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 BC).

5 slide

Slide description:

3. 火药 - Hoyao - Gunpowder Fire potion or Hoyao - gunpowder, one of the greatest inventions of the ancient Chinese. Legend has it that gunpowder was created by accident when ancient Chinese alchemists were trying to create a mixture that would grant them immortality. Ironically, they managed to create something with which they can easily take a person’s life. With the advent of gunpowder, the transition from bladed weapons to firearms began. More than six hundred years ago, fire arquebuses were invented in China. Over time, we came to understand that by adding metals to the mix, we get bright colors, and thus modern colorful fireworks were born.

6 slide

Slide description:

In the 3rd century, the Chinese philosopher Hen Fei-tzu described the design of a contemporary compass as follows: The plate was marked with the designations of the cardinal points in the form of cyclic zodiac signs. By pushing the handle of the spoon, it was set into rotation. Having calmed down, the compass pointed with its handle (which played the role of a magnetic needle) exactly to the south. This was the most ancient device for determining the cardinal directions. 4. Invention of the compass It looked like a pouring spoon made of magnetite with a thin handle and a spherical, carefully polished convex part. With this convex part, the spoon was mounted on an equally carefully polished copper or wooden plate, so that the handle did not touch the plate, but hung freely above it, and at the same time the spoon could easily rotate around the axis of its convex base

7 slide

Slide description:

5. China - the birthplace of silk The Empress accidentally discovered a butterfly cocoon on the leaves of a mulberry tree. She decided that this was a certain fruit that she intended to try. They say that she accidentally dropped the cocoon into a cup of tea and, just as accidentally, was surprised to discover that a light thread was stretching from it. She is credited with the invention of silk spinning and silk weaving technologies. It cannot be sculpted. We are only allowed to feel the bodily power of his seduction. Ancient China is considered the birthplace of silk. According to many legends, the culture of sericulture arose around the 5th millennium BC. on the banks of the Great Yellow River. Most notable is the tale of Lei Zu, the first consort of the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese who lived in central China about 5,000 years ago. More than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu Di sent an envoy to the west to pave the way for silk caravans to travel. This is how the Great Silk Road appeared.

8 slide

Slide description:

6. Chinese porcelain China is the birthplace of porcelain. It can be said that porcelain is the pinnacle of traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Porcelain production technology developed greatly during the Tang and Song dynasties. In the history of the development of Chinese porcelain, the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) periods are the heydays of its production.

Slide 9

Slide description:

Characteristic features of works of Chinese art are decorativeness, emphasized ornamentation, the use of calligraphy, careful elaboration of details, and a subtle understanding of natural forms. Favorite motifs of ornaments - dragons, birds, flowers, clouds, geometric shapes - have a pronounced symbolic meaning. Symbols of Chinese painting. Bamboo Health and longevity. Generosity, generosity and nobility. A conductor of favorable energy. Meihua Inflexibility and resilience. Pride, crystal purity and beauty. Renewal and youth. Love and luck. Orchid Love, sophistication, purity and hidden nobility.

10 slide

Slide description:

Pine Restraint and resilience. Devotion and fidelity. Eternal youth and long life. Symbols of Chinese painting. Chrysanthemum Modesty and chastity. Longevity, wisdom and happiness. Peony Human beauty, wealth, abundance. Ardent passion and undying love. Honor and pomp. Lotus Inner purity, beauty, perfection. Spiritual growth, prosperity and success in all endeavors.

11 slide

Slide description:

Symbols of Chinese painting. Fish carp Wishes of happiness and success. Good luck in your career and business. Courage and overcoming difficulties. Fruitful cooperation and partnership. Literary ability. Two carp - complete harmony of relations between a man and a woman. Goldfish Marital happiness. They symbolize a happy family enjoying a constant abundance of joy, luck and love. Pair of Cranes Longevity, wisdom, love, harmony, power, happiness and wealth. Loyalty and honor. Vigilance and protection of motherhood.

12 slide

Slide description:

The image of a dragon is traditionally perceived as the embodiment of wisdom, kindness and peacefulness. A dragon with five claws is a symbol of imperial power, a phoenix bird is a symbol of beauty, strength and supreme bliss. Symbols of Chinese painting.

Slide 13

Slide description:

Chinese artistic culture has achieved success in all types of art; it is no coincidence that the Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi wrote: China has surpassed all countries of the world, and has reached the pinnacle of all arts. Alisher Navoi (1441 – 1501)

Slide 14

Slide description:

15 slide

Slide description:

The secret of the unusual impression that Chinese architecture makes lies in the skillful, carefully thought-out arrangement of the building against the backdrop of nature, in the ability to find the most picturesque and at the same time natural place for them. In general, Chinese architecture is characterized by monumentality, clear harmony, tranquility and grandeur of forms.

16 slide

Slide description:

The Great Wall of China The Chinese Wall stretches along the inaccessible mountain peaks in northern China, along the entire northwestern border, for 5 thousand km. Its majestic simplicity, fused with the powerful and harsh nature of northern China, is striking. Forming bizarre curves, it stretches out like a light strip into the endless distance of the horizon.

Slide 17

Slide description:

Its construction began in the 4th – 3rd centuries. BC, and ended by the 15th century. The main purpose is to protect the Chinese state from attacks by nomadic tribes from the north. A 5-8 meter wide road was laid along its top, along which troops could move. Every 100 - 150 meters along the entire length of the wall there were massive rectangular towers from which light signals were transmitted. This grandiose architectural structure, organically integrated into the natural landscape, was designed to personify the power of the great Chinese power.

18 slide

Slide description:

Yungang Monastery Buddhist cave temples located in inaccessible mountains have become a unique phenomenon in Chinese architecture. Yungang Monastery is one of the masterpieces of world architecture. It amazes with its length and grandeur; it makes an indelible impression on believing pilgrims. The monastery consists of 20 caves, each of which is dedicated to a specific Buddhist deity.

Slide 19

Slide description:

Outside, the rock is decorated with bas-reliefs and colossal statues of Buddha, depicted in a state of self-absorption and peace. Yungang Monastery Inside, they are filled with many sculptures of saints and reliefs on themes of Buddhist tales and legends.

20 slide

Slide description:

One of the most common buildings was the pagoda - a memorial tower erected in honor of the deeds of famous people. Pagoda The appearance of the pagoda is surprisingly simple, it uses almost no decorative decoration. A distinctive feature is the slightly raised pointed edges of the roof, which emphasizes the upward direction of the building.

21 slides

Slide description:

Dayanta Pagoda (Great Wild Goose Pagoda) The austere, almost devoid of decoration, the 64-meter Dayanta Pagoda is one of the best examples of Chinese style in architecture. The name of the pagoda goes back to the legend of the famous pilgrim who, during his journey from India to China, was helped to find his way by wild geese. Situated against the backdrop of a vast mountain range, Dayanta solemnly rises above the outskirts of the city of Xiyan - the former capital of the Chinese state. The seven floors, separated from each other by cornices, taper towards the top of the pagoda. Thanks to its elongated proportions, it seems light and graceful. The illusion of height is created even more by the windows rounded at the top, located in the center of each tier.

22 slide

Slide description:

The main form of residential and religious buildings in China is a rectangular wooden pavilion, which features large carved brackets supporting the roof. The inside of the building is divided into two or three naves, and outside it has a bypass gallery with pillars that also support the roof. A high, two- or four-pitched roof is a characteristic element of Chinese architecture. The slopes had a complex curved shape, its ends at the corners bent upward. Ceramic figurines of fantastic animals and dragons were attached to the roof ridges and ribs, and later bells began to be hung from the roof edges, which rang melodiously at the slightest breath of wind. Pavilion

Slide 23

Slide description:

Mughal invasion in the XIII - XIV centuries. dealt a crushing blow to Chinese culture. Only in the 15th–18th centuries, when the Ming dynasty came to power to replace the foreigners, more favorable conditions for the development of architecture began to emerge. Then the largest cities were built, wonderful palaces and temple ensembles were built. The largest building of this time was the palace ensemble in the Forbidden City. Old Beijing was divided into the Inner (North) and Outer (South) cities. The emperor and members of his family and close associates lived in the inner city. The entire territory located behind the fortress wall was a wonderful garden and park ensemble with artificial rivers, canals, pavilions and gazebos located on islands

24 slide

Slide description:

The palace ensemble included throne rooms, state chambers, theaters, distinguished by their elegance and solemn decoration, nobility and simplicity of form. All buildings were designed to glorify the greatness and power of the emperor, endowed with unlimited power, and to affirm the idea of ​​his divine origin.

25 slide

Slide description:

Temple of Heaven This is a wonderful masterpiece that has become the emblem of China. Built in the Outer City in 1420, away from the bustle of the city. It was rebuilt several times. Twice a year the emperor left his palace and went here to worship. On a bright sunny day, the majestic overall view of the Temple of Heaven from the mountain resembles a golden shimmering sea, the rhythm of which is conveyed by the flying, curved roofs of the roofs. The grandiose complex was dedicated to the ancient religious cults associated with the harvest, in which Heaven and Earth were revered

26 slide

Slide description:

The walled complex includes three main shrines: the round wooden temple of Prayers for the Harvest, the Temple of the Firmament, and the white marble altar where sacrifices were made to the spirits of Heaven. There is a lot of symbolism in this architectural ensemble: the square territory of the palace represents the Earth, the temple buildings and altar framed by a round terrace represent the Sun, the pointed peaks of the conical roofs represent the continuous circulation of natural elements. Sky Temple

Slide 27

Slide description:

28 slide

Slide description:

Chinese sculpture A characteristic feature of Chinese sculpture was its close connection with the Buddhist religion. That is why a significant part of the plastic works has been preserved in Buddhist temples. Here you can see fierce guardians of the entrance, repelling dragons, Buddhist saints - bodisattvas, but the main attention is drawn to the monumental images of the Buddha himself.

Slide 29

Slide description:

Statue of Buddha Vairocana (Lord of Cosmic Light) Buddha sits motionless in a majestic pose, slightly closing his large almond-shaped eyes. His calm, impassive face expresses the idea of ​​human dignity and spiritual strength. Huge halos radiate in circles along the wall around the head, emphasizing the sublime and divine beauty of the Buddha. This gigantic statue is still perceived as a majestic symbol of the Buddhist religion. The 25-meter statue, carved high in the mountains in the Longmen Cave Monastery, is one of the most perfect sculptures.

30 slide

Slide description:

In Ancient China, as in Egypt, there was a custom when burying emperors and rich aristocrats to put in the grave everything that surrounded them in earthly life: servants, pets, utensils. Thus, during archaeological excavations in Shaanxi province, a 10,000-strong army made of terracotta was discovered in the underground corridors of burial complexes. Life-size soldiers and officers, archers, infantrymen and horsemen, with full military equipment, demonstrated the power of the emperor who created the first centralized Chinese power. Probably, this large army was supposed to guard the emperor's tomb from robbers and protect him in the kingdom of death.

31 slides

Slide description:

All figures are full of expression, distinguished by amazing verisimilitude and variety of movements. Military leaders are depicted frozen in solemn and tense poses, archers are pulling a tight bowstring, soldiers, down on one knee, are preparing to defeat an invisible enemy. The coloring of the warriors' figures revealed their strict distinction by rank. More than 130 clay chariots and 500 horse sculptures were also discovered here. The terracotta army, built in battle formation, faithfully guarded the peace of its ruler.

32 slide

Slide description:

Slide 33

Slide description:

Chinese painting With extraordinary convincingness, Chinese masters were able to embody the poetic beauty of nature, their ideas about the perfect harmony and grandeur of the Universe. In their works they conveyed not only their own personal impressions, but also the life philosophy of the Chinese sages. A characteristic feature of Chinese painting and graphics is the desire to comprehend the universal laws of existence and the interconnection of phenomena through the particular and individual.

Slide 34

Slide description:

Chinese artists thought very carefully about the format and composition of their works. For example, to depict a chain of mountains, a horizontal scroll format was chosen, which made it possible to accommodate an endless stream of visual impressions. For mountainous areas covered with pointed tops of pine trees - vertical, which made it possible to convey a large space.

35 slide

Slide description:

Vertical scrolls made of silk or paper were hung on the walls and did not exceed 3 m. Horizontal scrolls depicting landscapes, genre scenes and city views, sometimes reaching several tens of meters, were intended for leisurely viewing. Slowly unrolling such a scroll, the viewer seemed to be reading a long travel book. The entire compositional structure of the work was designed to make a person feel like the smallest particle of the universe.

36 slide

Slide description:

Artist Guo Xi (c. 1020 – 1090) Guo Xi is one of the most soulful artists of lyrical landscape. His works are distinguished by a subtle knowledge of the life of nature, which in a special way influences the world of human feelings and experiences. It is in variability, in his opinion, that the beauty and greatness of nature lies. Guo Xi's monochrome landscapes, built on a combination of clear lines and blurred spots, played a significant role in the development of traditional Chinese painting. “Autumn in the River Valley” “Early Spring”

Slide 37

Slide description:

In the 7th – 13th centuries. painting has won a leading place among other forms of art. Traditionally, it distinguished landscape, portrait and historical genres. Of particular interest is the landscape, in which there are images of “mountains - water” and “flowers - birds”. It is characteristic that Chinese artists conveyed not so much the outlines of mountains and trees, but were able to express the idea of ​​​​the boundlessness of the surrounding world. In the majestic world of mountains, forests and rivers you can see small figures of one or two travelers. They are not in a hurry, they are simply contemplating the pristine beauty.

Chinese culture

Features of Chinese culture.

Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures on the planet. It was she who laid the foundation for such religions as Confucianism and Buddhism. The culture of China is a special, original and amazing feature of this mysterious people.

The culture of this country developed gradually and measuredly. It changed along with the history and political system of China. Since the mid-20th century, culture has been greatly influenced by the construction of socialism and communism.

Painting

Guohua is the name of national painting. Its heyday occurred in the Tang Dynasty. In ancient times, painting was a hobby of aristocrats and artists. With the communists coming to power, painting changed its style. Today, traditional Chinese painting coexists with Western style.

Architecture

In the country you can find both ancient Chinese and modern architecture. Traditional architecture is distinctive and modest. All buildings are symmetrical and do not exceed three floors; they are made of wood. Basically, ancient architecture is preserved in villages and suburbs. In large cities and the capital, for the most part, architecture is subject to Western influence.

Martial arts

The main martial art of China is Wu-shu. This includes both hand-to-hand combat and combat with traditional weapons.

Traditionally, China divides musical instruments according to material. They are:

Bamboo,

Wooden,

Clay,

Leather,

Stone, etc.

Chinese folk dances originated before literature. Every Chinese can reproduce the national dance. Dance reflects the inner world of a person, his emotional stress and love. The heyday of the oldest national dance occurred during the Tang Dynasty.

Cinema

In China, the first movie was made in 1905 under the influence of America. There was a huge leap in the development of cinema in the mid-20th century. Today, China ranks third in terms of film production.

Literature

Chinese literature dates back more than 4,000 years. The main literary books were and are religious works. Fiction received less attention. Also important works are dynastic chronicles. In the 20th century, prose and poetry became popular. Modern literature is associated with the activities of Lu Xun.

The traditional culture of China is present in all spheres of life of the Chinese people. The interior, customs and cuisine are also unique. Almost every village has its own traditional cuisine and customs.

National Costume

The Chinese have the richest national costumes. People of different classes are required to wear different clothes. The main color in clothes is red. However, white, blue and other colors are also found. Dresses are decorated with embroidery depicting dragons, flowers, etc.

Holidays

There are a huge number of holidays in China. They are mixed. The most important holiday is New Year. The Chinese celebrate it not on January 1, like the rest of the planet, but on January 21. Moreover, the celebration takes place not one or two nights, but a whole month.

Slide 2

The history of ancient China dates back to the Neolithic era, approximately 5th – 3rd millennium BC. Ancient Chinese civilization was formed in the Yellow River basin. At the same time, it was relatively isolated for a long time. The territory begins to expand only in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. Although statehood and class society in ancient China formed later than in ancient Western Asia, after their emergence they developed very quickly and contributed to the formation of a unique cultural and political system. A little history...

Slide 3

The culture of China dates back to very ancient times and is distinguished not only by the richness of its material and spiritual values, but also by its enormous vitality. Despite countless wars, rebellions, and destruction caused by the country's conquerors, the culture of China has always defeated the culture of the conquerors. Throughout history, Chinese culture has not lost its activity, maintaining its monolithic nature. Works of architecture, sculpture, painting and crafts are priceless monuments of China's cultural heritage.

Slide 4

The philosophy of ancient China is based on the ethical and political teachings of Confucius. The system of philosophical views created by him significantly influenced the development of the social and political system, as well as the spiritual culture of China, for more than two thousand years. According to Confucius, noble men headed by the sovereign (Emperor) - the “son of heaven” - are called to rule the state. A noble husband is an example of moral perfection. Their main task is to cultivate and spread philanthropy everywhere. Philanthropy included: parental care for children, filial piety towards elders in the family, as well as fair relations between those who are not related. Confucianism

Slide 5

The culture of ancient China is directly related to numerous myths, divided into several cycles. The most famous myths outside the Celestial Empire are cosmogonic ones, which interpret the emergence of man and nature from the original chaos. According to one of the concepts, living beings and inanimate things arose as a result of the division of chaos into the dark principle of Yin and the light principle of Yang. Yin - Yang Yin and Yang depend on each other, create constant movement, rising and falling like waves, and maintain mutual harmony. Just as a man and a woman are partners in dance, in love and in life, Yin and Yang are not only opposites, but also harmoniously complement each other.

Slide 6

Calligraphy is very significant in Chinese culture and is more of a special art than just a way of conveying information. This was largely due to the original magical function of hieroglyphs, which acted as intermediaries in communication between man and Heaven. Calligraphy

Slide 7

The architecture of ancient China can be represented by such outstanding examples as the Temple of Heaven, Gugong Palace, Beijing Yiheyuan Park and many others. The types of buildings (palaces, temples, dwellings) and their appearance (solemn, graceful, sophisticated) unite aesthetic aspirations and construction ideas that were unique to the Chinese nation. Architecture The main burden in the construction of buildings in ancient China lay on the frame pillars holding the roof, and not on the walls.

Slide 8

The culture of China had a great influence, first on the development of the culture of numerous neighboring peoples who inhabited the vast territories of later Mongolia, Tibet, Indo-China, Korea and Japan. Later on a large number of the leading powers of the medieval world. Chinese culture has made a significant contribution to the development of world culture. Its originality, high artistic and moral value speak of the creative talent and deep roots of the Chinese people.

View all slides

Chinese culture

Completed by: Popova N.V. - Geography teacher, Municipal Educational Institution "Secondary School"

p. Novorechensky"

The history of China is considered one of the oldest in the world, spanning five thousand years of historical and cultural development.

During this time, the Chinese fought a lot and seized lands; the country was also constantly raided by nomadic tribes or troops of neighboring powers. However, despite all this, Chinese traditions continued to form and develop.

It was in China that writing arose in ancient times, the Chinese were the first to use paper for writing, Chinese craftsmen made good weapons, and the art of combat became an example for warriors in other countries.

The euhemerization of myths also contributed to the characteristic Chinese mythology the process of anthropomorphization of heroes, which continued in folk mythology until late times. Totemistic ideas played a major role. Thus, the Yin tribes considered the swallow to be their totem, and the Xia tribes considered the snake to be their totem.

• The largest example burials emperors is the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, fifty kilometers from Xi'an, built within ten years after the emperor's accession to the throne in the 3rd century. BC e.

This "Terracotta Army", called the eighth wonder of the world, is accompanied by war chariots, ceramic horses and bronze weapons. ditches with clay troops occupy the area

20 thousand sq. m.

• According to various sources, length of the Chinese wall ranges from 2500 to 6800 m, in any case being the most ambitious defensive structure that has survived to this day. The height of the wall ranges from 6.6 to 10 m, width - from 5.5 to 8 m.
• Construction began in the 3rd century. BC e. to the 17th century n. e.

Songyuesi Temple

Buddhist monasteries began to play an important role in the cultural and political life of China. By the 6th century There were about 30 thousand of them on the territory of the Wei kingdom. Grandiose monastery complexes were carved into rocks, similar to Indian ones. Wooden temples and high multi-tiered towers - pagodas (Sunyuesa Pagoda) were also built, in which Buddhist relics were kept. The formative stage of Buddhist art in China is best represented by two groups of cave temples in the north: Yungang (Temple of the Cloudy Heights) in Shanxi Province and Longmen (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang, in Henan Province.

Chinese art developed in a wide variety of directions. Only in this country could one find craftsmen who perfectly produced the finest silk, or potters famous for the production of decorative porcelain. Chinese painters could paint not only the walls of temples and palaces, but also small ceramic and fabric items.

Chinese woman cut out a paper picture for five years

Chinese national painting appeared in ancient times and reached its full flowering in the Middle Ages. It is distinguished by great originality and is completely different in material, technique and artistic means from European painting. Chinese paintings are painted with ink. Mineral and vegetable paints such as watercolors on silk (sometimes on cotton or hemp fabric). Artists use brushes of different sizes, from very thin to very thick (from 5 millimeters to 5 centimeters). A stroke can be as light as a cloud or as powerful as a dragon.

The drawings are usually supplemented with Chinese characters.

• All painting of China, the variety of Chinese paintings created over many centuries can be classified into the following genres. 1. Hua Niao - “flowers-birds”, which is characterized by a reflection of the beauty of natural components, their harmony, as well as the interaction of natural elements and humans. Each depicted element of nature carried meaning and a certain meaning. For example, peonies symbolized wealth, pines - longevity, peaches - immortality - thus, with his painting, the artist wished all kinds of benefits to the people around him.

• 2. Zhenwu - "People"- covers portrait drawing, historical, palace, everyday, urban subjects, as well as illustrations of traditions and legends. The artists paid special attention to writing character, atmosphere and new aspects for that time, including the ideal of female beauty. This motif was first traced in the works of Zhou Fan, who lived at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries. 3. Shan Shui - “mountain-water”- works of this genre symbolize the unity and struggle of opposites yin and yang (dark feminine and light masculine, respectively).

• Each porcelain piece was an independent work of art. For a long time, people outside of China did not know how porcelain was made. This was the secret and pride of the Tang Empire. Famous poets even dedicated poems to it (porcelain). In the VII-XI centuries. the most famous were the Xingzhou kilns (Hebei province), which supplied snow-white, smooth, round-shaped vessels to the imperial court. Along with porcelain, tricolor ceramics san cai (“three colors”), covered with glazes of green, brown and golden yellow, were also highly valued. Ceramics XI-XII centuries. more refined and diverse. As in the painting of this time, the brightness of the colors in it was replaced by elegant simplicity and softness of color transitions. The vessels are distinguished by harmonious proportions and delicate gray-green and gray-blue shades. Song ceramists were inspired artists. In modest bowls, vases and goblets of iridescent gray-green tones, in streaks of paint and cracks that accidentally appeared during firing, they were able to capture the life of nature itself and give artistic meaning to random defects.

• Evidence that started producing silk in China, are the results of archaeological excavations. For example, the oldest silkworm cocoon found with traces of processing rested in the soil of one of the northern provinces of China from approximately the second millennium BC. The elements of the found loom are approximately the same age.
• For a long time history of silk meandered across the expanses of the Chinese provinces, leaving the country only in the form of a finished piece of matter and heading along the Great Silk Road, which connected East Asia and the Mediterranean, starting from the second century BC.

• Chinese shadow theater- Chinese theatrical art, which has overcome the language barrier and has become widespread not only in Asian countries, but also in Europe. otherwise called puppet theater. This is due to the fact that the characters in such a theatrical performance are skillfully made puppets. At the beginning of their development, these were painted paper dolls, but gradually the method of making them became more complicated.
• How does the performance take place? 1. A screen and lighting are installed so that the shadows of the figures involved in the performance fall on the canvas. In this case, the figures are almost pressed against the screen itself, and their coloring becomes visible. 2. Subjects for the presentation can be tales of wizards, legends, traditions, historical sagas, novels that are understandable to a wide range of viewers. 3. The performance is accompanied not only by dialogues, but also by music. 4. Weather conditions are often played out in the plot: rain, wind, sun seem real.