Spring 2006

ANS 372 • Arts in Chinese Literati Culture

Course Description

The literati tradition which began to take shape in the seventh century occupied the center of Chinese elite culture well into the modern era. Critical concepts of literati art, including calligraphy, monochromic landscape painting, and ink rubbings, were discussed extensively in the writings of theorists such as Su Shi (1037-1101) and Dong Qichang (1555-1636), who in different ways dictated the course of development of Chinese art. This course will examine pivotal examples and crucial concepts in the tradition of Chinese literati art from the seventh to the eighteenth centuries. By examining art works and theoretical writings (in English translation), the course will draw attention to the fundamental traits in iconography and aesthetics which characterize the Chinese literati tradition, while pointing out the fallacies and incompatibilities between its images and texts.

Texts

Bush, Susan. The Chinese Literati on Painting: Su Shih (1037-1101) to Tung Ch'i-ch'ang (1555-1636). Course package

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