(960-1279CE) The Song dynasty, considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history, was one of the longest, peaceful, and affluent dynasties with advancements in agriculture, technology, and commerce. It saw the innovations of gunpowder and fireworks, the mechanical clock, navigation by compass, paper money, porcelain production, movable type, and superior ship building. China’s economy grew to triple that of Europe with a population of nearly 100 million. Large numbers of foreigners entered China along the Silk Roads bringing with them new ideas, religions, and social practices. In response, massive numbers of government, private and religious building and tombs were created. Cities increased and became more international with less government meddling in trade and economic affairs. Prosperity increased, society became more vibrant, literature, art and education improved with the invention of movable-type and increased woodblock printing, and civil service examinations expansion enhanced officials’ power causing a shift from a military/ upper-class aristocracy to a scholar/ administrative elite. Wood was replaced with more durable and inflammable fired bricks in buildings. The insides of the new edifices of buildings, temples, and even tombs were embellished with inexpensive mold-made decorative brick tiles filled with wet clay, fired, covered with a white slip, painted in polychrome, and placed on walls. Subjects included mythology, auspicious symbols for wealth, health,
happiness, and long life and animals, plants, and trees that were symbolic wishes for other successful endeavors and scenes of everyday life.
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Stone reliefs or mold made earthenware brick tiles were made for ancestor worship and to decorate doors and the walls of tombs, temples and other structures from the Han Dynasty onwards. As China expanded its trade along the Silk Roads in the Song dynasty, foreign artistic influences began to be seen in the expanded use…
The Song dynasty (960–1279CE) is considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history. A massive expansion produced government and public buildings and tombs with walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold made brick tiles. Some were purely decorative and others were wishes for happiness and comfort in live and deceased people’s afterlife called mingqi. With…
Banquet scenes and feasts have been part of Chinese art and culture for millennia. They include celebrations of important rituals and social events, both public and private. These can be religious or social rituals, funerary practices performed by families filling their obligations of filial piety, family fêtes, scenes of scholarly gatherings, casual feasts for couples and…
The Song dynasty (960–1279) is considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history. A massive expansion during this dynasty produced government, public and religious buildings and tombs with walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold-made brick tiles. Some were purely decorative and others were wishes for happiness and comfort in the deceased’s afterlife called…
The Song dynasty (960–1279) is considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history. A massive expansion during this dynasty produced government, public and religious buildings and tombs with walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold-made brick tiles. Some were purely decorative and others were wishes for happiness and comfort in the deceased’s afterlife…
The Song dynasty (960–1279) is considered the most culturally brilliant era in later imperial Chinese history. A massive expansion during this dynasty produced government, public and religious buildings and tombs with walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold-made brick tiles. Some were purely decorative and others were wishes for happiness and comfort in the deceased’s afterlife…
Chinese funerary tiles, as forms of mingqi adorned tomb as early as the Han dynasty depicting everyday scenes, entertainment, mythical beasts, folklore, history, literature and poetry. A Han stone tomb relief rubbing in Stories from China’s Past (p. 173) labeled “Ascending to Heaven in Deer Chariot” is reflective of this Song brick-tile. During the Song…
During the Song dynasty, mold made unglazed earthenware brick tiles decorated the doors and walls of the government, private religious buildings as well as the doors and tomb walls of the rich used as funerary decorations (mingqi) to wish the deceased happiness and comfort in their afterlife. This thin brick presents two images. The figure…
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