Zhao Feng: Phoenix-themed Motifs on Chu Silk; Fan Jeremy Zhang: Defining Characteristics of Chu Art

00:00:30
Zhao Feng, Dean of the School of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University
“Phoenix-themed Motifs and Patterns on Chu Silk”
Mr. Shen Congwen once summarized the major decorative patterns of the Warring States and the Qin-Han periods as the art of dragons and phoenixes. In the Chu territory, phoenix patterns were very common and more important than those of dragons. Since the 20th century, many exquisitely woven and embroidered silk textiles have been unearthed from Chu tombs, summarizing the classification, form, and arrangement of phoenix patterns of the time.
00:29:50
Fan Jeremy Zhang, Barbara and Gerson Bakar Curator of Chinese Art, Asian Art Museum
"Phoenix Rhapsody: Defining Characteristics of Chu Art as a Southern Legacy”
The rich archaeological finds of the past few decades have revealed several interesting characteristics of Chu art, famous for its naturalistic depictions and creative designs full of romantic imagination. Given the vast cultural and political dominance of the Chu state, to outline the Chu style is to define the features of a southern legacy and demonstrate the vital role of the middle Yangzi region in shaping Chinese art for the next two millennia.
00:57:10
Q&A
Co-organized by the Asian Art Museum and Hubei Provincial Museum. Symposium made possible with the generous support of the Bei Shan Tang Foundation.