Objectives

Chapter 24 explores China and Korea, countries under continual transformation, as they contemplate their past and try to isolate themselves and their history from the rest of the world. For China, you will study three major dynasties plus glimpse the modern period.

Your goals for this chapter include:

• Grasp the main historical divisions of China since the late thirteenth century.

• Distinguish between official court art, and the growing importance of art produced for small audiences of like-minded intellectuals.

• Learn about the relationship between China under political and military siege, and the art that develops in this atmosphere.

• Appreciate the fact that unlike the earlier history of Chinese art, the material of this epoch is produced almost exclusively in the realm of painting and calligraphy.

• Understand the influence of China on Korea.