Chapter 18
Ornament in China
Jessica Rawson,
Jessica Rawson
Search for more papers by this authorJessica Rawson,
Jessica Rawson
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):Martin J. Powers,
Katherine R. Tsiang,
Martin J. Powers
Search for more papers by this authorKatherine R. Tsiang
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Correlation of artifacts' decorative qualities (including motifs, and colors) with social structures is one of the abiding features of China's ornamental traditions. This chapter discusses Chinese ornament within three relatively large time frames: (1) early China; (2) the early empires and their successors; (3) the period of the dynasties of the Song to Qing periods. In the early period, the earliest functions of ornament were to decorate ceramics, a material representative of China and one that has a very strong foundation in the region's history. While many motifs on gold had a very short life as a court fashion during the period of the early empires, one important ornamental and long-lasting contribution was the cloud scroll. Under the Song, two approaches dominated and affected ornament: a concern for moderation and decorum and a return to the past. Qing emperors oversaw the creation of palace complexes adorned with Chinese auspicious ornament.
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