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Untitled, standing figure of Sakyamuni
Northern Wei Dynasty, ca. 386 - 534ca. 4th-6th century
3 in. (7.62 cm)
, Chinese
Object Type:
Decorative Arts, Utilitarian Objects
Creation Place:
Asia, China
Medium and Support:
metal
Credit Line:
Carleton College Art Collection, gift of Percy T. Watson, class of 1903
Accession Number:
1997.632
Keywords
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This object has the following keywords:
ancient*,
Chinese*,
decorative arts*,
metal*,
Northern Wei*,
sculpture (visual work)*,
three-dimensional*,
Wei*
- ancient - In the discipline of art history, typically refers to the period in Europe, Asia Minor, and north Africa, prior to the fall of the western Roman Empire. The term is also sometimes applied more generally to prehistory and to early cultures in other areas of the world.
- Chinese - Describes works created by the people of the same name living in China.
- decorative arts - Refers to works that are primarily utilitarian in form or function, but that have aesthetic value provided by the design, decoration, or embellishment. They may include ceramics, furniture, and other household or utilitarian objects. They are distinct from "fine arts," which were traditionally considered to require more extensive training and were restricted to the media of painting, sculpture, drawing, and architecture.
- metal - Any of a large group of substances that typically show a characteristic luster, are good conductors of electricity and heat, are opaque, can be fused, and are usually malleable or ductile.
- Northern Wei - Refers to the Chinese dynastic period and culture dating to 386 to 534 CE. Its capital was initially at Pingcheng but was moved south to Luoyang in 493-494 by Emperor Xiaowendi (reigned 471-499) where a new magnificent city was built on the ruins of the old Chinese capital; by 534 the population was more than half a million. Buddhist art flourished under state and private patronage during most of this period. Cave temples at Yungang were begun in ca. 460; thousands of craftsmen worked for about 35 years to make the temples and adorn them with sculpture and painting. Other cave temples were later made at Longmen at the instigation of Xiaowendi. While Yungang features static icons in a Gandharan style, the sculpture at Longmen is more linear, demonstrating the emerging Chinese style. Northern Wei burial pottery, also influenced by Buddhism, emphasizes frontality and symmetry. The nomadic Touba people began to rely on Chinese institutions to organize and run their state and they also became accustomed to Chinese culture and luxuries; under Xiaowendi Chinese became the official language and the use of Tuoba language was forbidden. The distinction between the 'barbarian' north and 'civilized' south became less marked; nevertheless, northern frontiersmen began to feel neglected and so they revolted, leading to the collapse of the Northern Wei dynasty. Northern China was divided into the Eastern and Western Wei dynasties in 534.
- sculpture (visual work) - Works of art in which images and forms are produced in relief, in intaglio, or in the round. It refers especially to those objects that retain the quality of being tangible objects or groups of objects. It refers particularly to art works created by carving or engraving a hard material, by molding or casting a malleable material, or by assembling parts to create a three-dimensional object. It is typically used to refer to large or medium-sized objects made of stone, wood, bronze, or another metal. Small objects are typically referred to as "carvings." As works become more diffused in space or time, or less tangible, use specific terms, such as "mail art" or "environmental art."
- three-dimensional - Having, or appearing to have, the three dimensions of length, width, and height.
- Wei - Refers to the culture associated with the northern Chinese dynasty dating to 386 to 556 CE that was founded by the Tuoba people. The Wei dynasty succeeded the series of Sixteen Kingdoms (310-439) that ruled northern China after the collapse of the unifying Western Jin dynasty. The Northern Wei dynasty, ruled from 386 to 534 and succeeded in reunifying the north. Frontier areas revolted in 534 and the Northern Wei was succeeded by the two overlapping states of Eastern Wei (534-550) and Western Wei (535-556). Although a time of geographic division, China benefited from foreign influences and Wei institutions such as land reform, taxation, and militia systems were further developed by later Chinese dynasties. Buddhism was widely adopted during the Wei period and it quickly became the main inspiration for figurative art. The Wei rulers were great patrons of Buddhist art, commissioning vast rock-cut temples decorated with sculpture and painting at Yungang, Longmen, Mt. Maiji and Dunhuang. Although mostly melted down, many Buddhist bronze sculptures were produced. Landscape painting became more important, as seen on carved stone sarcophagi and in wall paintings.
Additional Images
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Dimensions
- overall Dimensions: 3 in. (76 mm)