Two Eagles

#asianart #chinesepainting #japanesepainting #eagles

I though these two images might show how Chinese and Japanese painting can differ?

Chinese Painting Zheng Jie 

Ito Jakuchu Japanese

The same medium  brush and ink on a scroll but note the differences !

A Jakuchu Eagle

I've shown you eagles and other birds painted or printed in a variety of styles, chinese, japanese, ukiyo-e, ming, kano, rimpa, shinhanga, bunjinga and more.

Now here's one by Ito #Jakuchu.

Its very ... well the only word I can use in English is POINTY ... angular doesnt seem strong enough!

There's a basic s-curve composition and the tonal gradients of the brush strokes are arranged in a strong striking pattern of grays and blacks contrasting to white areas and Jakuchos distinctive use of white outlines. The contrast should look awkward  and jagged rather than expressive but such is Jakuchu's design skills and genius that it all works together!

Liao Dynasty Phoenix HairPin

#Liaodynasty #Liao #phoenix #hairpin #chinesejewellery

Some metalwork for a change. Yes this really was a hairpin.

Most of the examples I've seen were created for the Imperial Family or Aristocrats however I have seen references that they were also used by wealthy families as parts of wedding outfits.

I wonder if they were ever made in bronze or copper or enamel for families who couldn't afford gold?

Sewing for Scholars and Soldiers - Chinese Rank Badges

During the Ming and Qing dynasties the adding of embroidered patches to the jackets or outer robes of scholars, mandarins, aristocrats, courtiers and military officials and officers became a formal system. Imperial Princes and the Highest ranking Aristocrats worn dragons. Lower civil ranks had birds and the Military Animals like Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Bears and Rhinos.

This silver pheasant would have marked its wearer as being of the 5th rank in nine rank system with the highest ranks wearing Cranes and the very lowest Quails or Orioles.

Thee are many articles online about this ranking system and the pricing of antique robes. 

You will also modern replicas used for cushion covers advertised but what I want you to consider is this: the women who did the embroidery.

Chiang Yee in his autobiography describes his father painting embroidery patterns for the women of his household but I wonder how many of these women would have rather had lessons in how to paint for themselves, would have preferred a brush and inks and pigments to a needle and dyed silk threads?

I wonder how many women in military households would have rather been studying martial arts or books of strategy?

These patches and other Chinese embroidery are very beautiful but I wonder how many women did embroidery because it was the only outlet they had.

Thankfully in this century many women get more choice but spare a thought for textile workers be they embroiders, silk spinners and weavers, or garment finishers. Check you're buying those handicrafts from a genuine co-op or a workshop thats signed on to an ethical manufacture agreement.

Birds by Buson.

#buson #painting #japanese #nanga #bunjinga

I've shown you birds by masters of Chinese flower and bird painting and Japanese masters of #ShinHanga  #Rimpa and #Ukiyo-e . For a change here's a Japanese #NANGA or #Bunjinga style work by Yosa Buson also a creator of Haiku.

The monochrome coloring adds to the drama of the paired scrolls featuring two crows and what may be a hawk or an eagle on the right. Note the balance of curves and diagonals rendered by expressive broad brushstrokes. 

SANSUI Closeup and Tonal contrast in Chinese Painting.

Here's a close-up  of one area of a famous Chinese #sansui #landscape.

People wirte about how chinese painting doesn't use tonal contrast or shadows to create depth and yet in works like this contrasting tones of ink near black and lighter grays do create an illusion of depth, of water flowing past and thru dark recesses and cliffs from a higher place downwards into a larger body of water and note how the plainer tones contrast also with the texture strokes in the foreground!

One should also bear in mind the silk this was painted on may have darkened since this is hundreds of years old but the darkening has strengthened the contrast.

Persia and China and a Phoenix

Okay since I was sick double posts to make up for my absence today!

Some of you may already know about the interactions of China and the Islamic world via ceramics.

Sancai and later blue and white ware and polychrome ceramics were developed partly in response to imports from Mesopotamia of lead glazed earthenware polychrome and later  Iznik ware was partly a response to imports of  Chinese blue and white wares.

Another example of how the interaction went both ways is this #Ilkhanid #phoenix #ceramic #tile

The rhythm and layout is very Chinese but note the Islamic influence on the floral ornaments !

No culture exists in isolation.

Is this "cultural appropriation" or interchange and fusion?

green tea and evil pollen

Sorry folks I've been sick off and on for the last week with the sort of minor ailments that tempt one to overdo things so one is sick one day and better the next but not fully recovered

stomach bug upsetting my blood sugar levels wattle pollen allergy leading to sinusitis sniffles mild flu or pollen reaction ... generic weird aches and twinges

I'm functioning on green tea and boringly sensible soups brown rice etc since anything much spicier sweeter or stronger makes me sick again

maybe by the weekend I've have the energy and inspiration to make a decent post