Essay about Arts and Recreation in Song Dynasty China

When studying the rich history of arts and recreation in the Song Dynasty, it is evident that there were many newly pioneered practices that completely captivated the populous and became the epitome of several long-established genres. When one observes the progression of visual arts through the Song Dynasty, landscape painting established itself as the most prevalent and important of the multitude of forms in this genre. Close examination of entertainment reveals that the dramatic arts, with emphasis on shadow-puppeteering, became the most enjoyed form of amusement in the Song Dynasty. Finally, nothing had become more delightful than the everyday life of a citizen, which never had a dull moment. Chinese art and recreation came to a†¦show more content†¦A landscape painter â€Å"tended to be a recluse, an individualist, and a Daoist (Morton and Lewis 2005).† These artists thought of landscape painting as the â€Å"grandest and most satisfying way to represent nat ure as a whole, to feel a sense of communion with nature, and to know oneself to be part of an orderly cosmos (Morton and Lewis 2005).† Thus, one can see the implications of landscape painting lay not just in its beauty and simplicity, but also in its spiritual connection with Nature, and thus had wide appeal. The point of view in landscape painting was also of paramount importance. The Chinese artists understood that Western artists took in scenes from five or six feet from the ground. Chinese artists worked from a raised viewpoint, so that they are not bogged done by small details in the front and get a better sense of the whole scene (Morton and Lewis 2005). Every part of the image that is created has its own innate interest, and yet it all comes together and works well as a whole (Morton and Lewis 2005). It is clear that landscape painting was a cherished and important art form in Song Dynasty culture. Dramatic arts became an essential and esteemed form of entertainm ent during the Song Dynasty. The Chinese theater ran the gamut of all possible kinds of play or composition. A testament to the Song’s work toward variety in entertainment â€Å"the drama made quite a feature of short farcical scenes, acrobatic turns and satiricalShow MoreRelated Prehistoric Art: Devotional or Decorative? Essay928 Words   |  4 PagesPrehistoric Art: Devotional or Decorative? For thousands of years human beings have created art. Whether it takes the form of pictures, sculptures, or other any other type of object, it has always been something thought to be particularly beautiful by the people of the culture that created it. 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