Chinese folk art are artistic forms inherited from a regional or ethnic scene in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
. Usually there are some variation between
provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
. Individual
folk art
Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...
s have a long history, and many traditions are still practiced today. The general definition of folk art incorporates
Chinese art forms that are not classified as
Chinese fine art.
Chinese Folk art is the ancient forms of art that originated in China. Some of these ancient art forms include jade carvings,
performance art
Performance art is an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by the artist or other participants. It may be witnessed live or through documentation, spontaneously developed or written, and is traditionally presented to a pu ...
such as music and their respective instruments, textile art such as basket weaving, paper art and clothing.
Jade Carving
Jade is a semi-rare green mineral. This mineral is prominently found in Chinese art. Due to the toughness of Jade, It is believed that Chinese Jade Carvings were first carved into weapons such as swords, it is unclear if the sword carvings were used for ceremonial or utilitarian use. As time went on Jade was carved into many different shapes and forms, an example of a Jade Carving is a circular disk which is usually used as a ritual function. By 3,000 BC Jade was referred to “yu” which means “the royal gem”. By 206 BC Xu Shen a Chinese Scholar during the Han Period listed the Five Virtues of Jade; they are: Benevolence, Honesty, Wisdom, Integrity, and Bravery. Unlike gold, diamonds, pearls Jade is considered priceless in China. Jade is extremely difficult to form hence why the mineral is so expensive. Jade is a precious gemstone that in the Chinese culture represents love, strength, purity, luck, and gentleness. Jade is also used in the ancient art of Feng Shui in China. Jade in the aspect of Feng Shui adds an element of harmony and balance to the space the jade is placed in. Carvings using jade was a common folk art in China. From objects such as masks to animals, jade - along with bamboo and wood - was used to craft many
works of art. It is believed that Chinese Jade Carvings were first carved into weapons such as swords, it is unclear if the sword carvings were used for ceremonial or utilitarian use. As time went on Jade was carved into many different shapes and forms, an example of a Jade Carving is a circular disk which is usually used as a ritual function.
Basket weaving
Baskets are mainly woven with bamboo or plant stems.
File:Baskets in Haikou 03.jpg, Baskets in Haikou
Haikou (; ), also spelled as Hoikow is the capital and most populous city of the Chinese province of Hainan. Haikou city is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River. The northern part of the city is on the ...
City, Hainan
Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various islands in the South China Sea. , the largest and most populous island in China,The island of Taiwan, which is slightly l ...
Province, China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
.
Chinese kites
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
is the birthplace of the
kite
A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have a bridle and tail to guide the fac ...
, and
Weifang
Weifang () is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to ...
is one of the chief places where Chinese kites originated. Kite-flying became prevalent in Weifang in the
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the res ...
(960–1279). By the
Ming dynasty
The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
(1368–1644) kite-flying had become even more popular, and kite fairs on a rather large scale had appeared. Kites were sold not only across
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in His ...
, but also to
Jiangsu
Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with it ...
,
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ...
,
Anhui
Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze Riv ...
and other places. The noted English scholar
Joseph Needham
Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham (; 9 December 1900 – 24 March 1995) was a British biochemist, historian of science and sinologist known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology, i ...
listed kites in his book ''
History of Science and Technology in China'' as one of the important contributions in science and technology that the Chinese introduced to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
.
File:Kite museum weifang 2010 06 06.jpg, Photograph of the entrance hall of the Kite Museum Kite Museum may refer to:
* Kite Museum (Johor) in Johor, Malaysia
* Kite Museum (Malacca) in Malacca, Malaysia
* Patang Kite Museum at Sanskar Kendra
Sanskar Kendra is a museum at Ahmedabad, India, designed by the architect Le Corbusier. It i ...
in Weifang
Weifang () is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to ...
, Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in His ...
, China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
.
Food art
Sugar
Sugar painting (Simp. 糖画, Trad. 糖畫 -''Tánghuà'')is a form of traditional Chinese folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create two dimensional objects on a marble or metal surface.
Sugar people (糖人) is a traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create three-dimensional figures.
File:Chinese candies.jpg, Sugar figures
Flour figures
Mian Ren (Flour Figure) are made of coloured flours. Craftsmen used to travel with their tools to villages and towns to make and sell flour figures for a very basic income. Sometimes flour figures are used in dishes together with vegetable carvings.
Paper art
The first two forms of paper art began in the Han dynasty with
Chinese paper cutting
The art of paper cutting ( zh, t=剪纸, p=jiǎnzhǐ) in China may date back to the 2nd century CE, when paper was invented by Cai Lun, a court official of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
As paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one o ...
and
Chinese paper folding, together with the
hand fan
A handheld fan, or simply hand fan, is any broad, flat surface that is waved back-and-forth to create an airflow. Generally, purpose-made handheld fans are folding fans, which are shaped like a sector of a circle and made of a thin material (su ...
and
pinwheel (toy).
Chinese paper-cutting, or ''jianzhi,'' (剪纸) is a type of folk art that has roots in China during the 6th century and is attributed to Cai-Lun during the
Han Dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...
.
Known to be very intricate with the use of negative space, ''jianzhi'' is used for mostly decorative reasons, appearing on mirrors, lanterns, walls, etc.
In most cities and
Chinatowns, paper art will adorn many street corners, business fronts, and inside buildings.
Performances
Puppetry
One of the oldest forms of
folk art
Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...
is
puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. Such a performa ...
. Puppeteers use various kinds of puppets, including
marionettes,
glove puppets, rod puppets, cloth puppets and wire puppets in performances incorporating folk songs and dances over some dialogues. The subject matter is derived mainly from children's stories and fables.
File:Taiwan-Puppet-Monkey-god2.jpg
Shadow play
Chinese shadow theatre is a form of puppetry that is performed by moving figures made of
animal skins or
cardboard
Cardboard is a generic term for heavy paper-based products. The construction can range from a thick paper known as paperboard to corrugated fiberboard which is made of multiple plies of material. Natural cardboards can range from grey to light b ...
held behind a screen lit by lamplight. The subject matter and singing style in shadow plays are closely related to
Chinese opera
Traditional Chinese opera (), or ''Xiqu'', is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more tha ...
, except without using live actors or actresses.
Chinese shadow theatre is a form of puppetry that is performed by moving figures made of
animal skins or
cardboard
Cardboard is a generic term for heavy paper-based products. The construction can range from a thick paper known as paperboard to corrugated fiberboard which is made of multiple plies of material. Natural cardboards can range from grey to light b ...
held behind a screen lit by lamplight. This art style was passed down in a Master-Apprentice style until recently. The most common troupe roster is one puppeteer, singer and musicians whose subject matter and singing style in shadow plays are closely related to
Chinese opera
Traditional Chinese opera (), or ''Xiqu'', is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more tha ...
, except without using live actors or actresses. Shadow puppetry was banned by the government in 1966 during the cultural revolution, but puppetry was allowed back in the late 1970s.
File:OFB-Qianlongsatz03-Krieger.JPG, Chinese Shadow Play Figures, Two warriors; Qianlong era set; approx. 1780, Deutsches Ledermuseum, Offenbach, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
Textile arts
Chinese knot
Chinese knotting (中國結) is a decorative handicraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song dynasty (960–1279 AD) in China. It was later popularized in the Ming. The art is also referred to as Chinese traditional decorative knots.
[Chang, 2006).] One of the more traditional art forms, it creates decorative knot patterns. During the Culture revolution it was not practiced, but nowadays it is very popular again.
In other cultures, it is known simply as "decorative knot".
File:Chinese knot and lanterns at Temple of Heaven Lunar New Year Celebration.jpg
File:Chinese Knot P4R.jpg, thumbnail, A 4-row Pan Chang knot with cross knots
File:Eight chinese knots.jpg
File:Chinese Butterfly Knot.jpg
Tiger-head shoes
Tiger-head shoes (虎头鞋) are an example of traditional Chinese folk handicraft used as footwear for children. Their name comes from the toe cap, which looks like the head of a tiger.
Musical instruments
Bolang gu, a traditional Chinese
pellet drum
Pellet drums, or rattle drums, are a class of membranophone, or drum, characterized by their construction and manner of playing. They have two heads (either a single double-headed drum or two hemispherical single-headed drums joined together with ...
and
toy.
File:Bolang-gu-chinese-instrument.jpg
Muyu, a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish, it is played by striking the top with a wooden stick; often used in Buddhist chanting.
File:Chinese Muyu QM r.jpg
See also
*
Chinese art
*
Chinese fine art
*
Chinese games
*
Culture of China
Chinese culture () is one of the world's oldest cultures, originating thousands of years ago. The culture prevails across a large geographical region in East Asia and is extremely diverse and varying, with customs and traditions varying grea ...
* Chinese folk art
References
Bibliography
* Chang, Zonglin. Li, Xukui. (2006). ''Aspect of Chinese culture.'' 中国文化导读. 清华大学出版社 publishing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese Folk Art
Folk art
Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...