Type: Background Information [X]
Becoming a Master Islamic Calligrapher
Just as beautiful calligraphy is a reflection of a pure soul, the training to become a master Islamic calligrapher (hattats) symbolizes a religious pilgrimage. The pursuit to acquire exquisite penmanship brought one closer to spiritual perfection and to God. This is evident in the tradition of passing down knowledge from teacher to pupil. Following the structure set by the spiritual teaching of Sufism, it is appropriately called the "chain of transmission." It is through this training process that individual styles have been preserved and may be traced back through the centuries from a long lineage of calligraphers.
Beliefs and Religions of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
China's emperors believed that Heaven bestowed upon them a divine mandate to rule — thus their title "Son of Heaven." This mandate was hereditary but could be withdrawn at any time and bestowed upon another family if Heaven deemed it appropriate...
Beliefs of Hinduism
Learn about the basic beliefs of Hinduism.
Bön, Tibet's Indigenous Belief System
Bön, Tibet's indigenous belief system, is a high form of religious ritualism primarily concerned with righting the causes of human ailment and misfortune and coexisting with the underlying forces of the universe. It focuses on the living, but has a clear sense of an afterlife and seeks to bring benefits and hap- piness in both this world and the world to come.
Bu and Bun: The Arts of War and Peace
In addition to superior strategic and military ability, most elite samurai were expected to be versed in the cultural arts. The warrior's ideal balance of military and artistic skill is captured well in this description of the sixteenth century daimyo Hosokawa Yusai (1534–1610): "Renowned for his elegant pursuits, he is a complete man combining arts [bun] and arms [bu] . . ." Learn more.
Buddhism in the Tang (618–906) and Song (960–1279) Dynasties
Buddhism was founded in northern India in the sixth century BCE. Most historians believe it was introduced to China in approximately the second century by means of monks and traders along the Silk Road.
Buddhist and Hindu Terms
A selection of Buddhist and Hindu terms and their definitions.
Buddhist Cave Shrines of Longmen
The central cave at Longmen, built in the late 600s, vividly asserts the union of the concept of Buddha as universal sovereign with the concept of the emperor (or empress) as the living representa- tion on earth of that principal.
Buddhist Caves at Ajanta
Learn about Buddhist caves. This is one of a series of caves excavated out of the volcanic rock that extends along a cliff overlooking the Wagora River at Ajanta, about two hours north of the present-day city of Aurangabad, in Maharastra state in western India.
Buddhist Dance in Bhutan
Cham is the sacred dance of Vajrayana Buddhism. Performed throughout Bhutan, it is usually presented in festivals featuring several days of dancing...
Buddhist Manuscripts (Sutras) of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392)
The religious fervor and opulence of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) can be seen in the intricately hand-copied sutras (the teachings of the Buddha) that date to this period. Korean monk-scribes were commissioned by royals, aristocrats, and individual high-ranking monks to write the sacred words of the Buddha by applying pigments of ground gold and silver to deep indigo–dyed mulberry paper. They began by pictorially narrating the sermons of the Buddha with key episodes within the sutra chapter on the frontispiece (first four sutra panels). The rest of the sutra comprised flowing calligraphy translating the Buddha's teachings.
Chanoyu: The Japanese Art of Tea
The Japanese phrase Chanoyu, translated literally as "hot water for tea," refers to the tradition of preparing and serving powdered green tea in a highly stylized manner. Learn more about this tradition.
China: An Introduction to the Song Dynasty (960–1279)
Scholars often refer to the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties as the "medieval" period of China. The civilizations of the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties of China were among the most advanced civilizations in the world at the time. Discoveries in the realms of science, art, philosophy, and technology—combined with a curiosity about the world around them—provided the men and women of this period with a worldview and level of sophistication that in many ways were unrivaled until much later times, even in China itself.
China: An Introduction to the Tang Dynasty (618–906)
Chinese Calligraphy in Korea
The boys in this image study Chinese calligraphy. Calligraphy is painted with brush and ink and can be produced in five different scripts. It is both an art form and a language. It originated with the ancient seal script found in ancient China on ceremonial bronze vessels and on oracle bones. Chinese writing systems entered Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE–668 CE) probably assisted by Buddhist monks, who were proficient in the reading and writing of texts. Even after the Korean (hangul) system of writing was developed in 1446, scholars continued to read and write using Chinese calligraphy.
Chinese Calligraphy: From the Neolithic Period (ca. 4500–2200 BCE) to the Song Dynasty (960–1279)
Calligraphy is considered to be one of the most important art forms in Chinese culture. Only in Islamic art does calligraphy also rank so highly.
Chinese New Year Parade
Chinese New Year Parade 2011, San Francisco, California. Photographer: Corbette Lee, courtesy of the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade.