ARTH 150: Introduction to Art History
Museum Fieldtrip: Ancient Chinese Funerary Art
What do artworks reveal about the past? How can artworks teach us about other cultures and their beliefs?
This semester the La Salle Art Museum is featuring a special exhibition on Ancient Chinese Funerary Sculpture. If you are able, I would highly recommend you visit in person. If not, you can complete this assignment by viewing the La Salle Art Museum's collection of Asian Ceramics and Sculpture online at:
https://artcollection.lasalle.edu/objects-1/portfolio?
records=20&query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2250%22&sort=0
Please read the essays and watch the videos on “The Sacred Realm in China” from Module 7 prior
to responding to the questions below. Please use complete sentences in paragraph format. For each question, you will also want to include specific objects from the La Salle Art Museum to support your answer.
1.
What can we learn about ancient Chinese belief in the afterlife from the excavation of ancient tombs?
Chinese beliefs, about the afterlife suggest that people thought life after death was much like life on Earth. Tombs were filled with items such as pottery, weapons and terracotta soldiers indicating that the deceased needed these objects in their afterlife.
2.
How was status represented in the burial of the dead in ancient China?
The status of individuals was evident in the size and contents of their burial sites. Elaborate tombs with possessions were reserved for the elite highlighting the importance of standing.
3.
Using our collection, locate ancient Chinese funerary objects from each of these dynasties: 1
