Methods and Materials in the Arts of East Asia

In this seminar will explore the manner in which the distinctive artistic traditions of China, Korea, and Japan were shaped by the technical expertise of their craftsmen and by the local availability of materials such as jade and silk. Although the earliest decorative traditions probably arose by chance, e.g., when a potter accidentally scratched the surface of a still-wet ceramic vessel, later specialists developed crafts like piece-mold bronze casting through intentional, systematic experimentation. Some of these technologies were imported from abroad, while others--like porcelain--were local developments that would transform world history by generating major export markets. 3 hrs. sem.