History of chinese and japanese art
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
The course is constituted of two parts, each running in consecutive semesters: the first semester will cover China, while the second one will cover Japan. This course cannot be attended as a single course; students will need to attend both semesters to pass the course exam.
The aim of the course is to provide students with a general knowledge of Chinese art and archaeology from the Neolithic period to the Tang Dynasty. Subsequent periods will be briefly analysed in relation to long-distance Eurasian connections, as well as the influence that past artistic production had on shaping modern Chinese art and culture.
The aim of the course is to provide students with a general knowledge of Chinese art and archaeology from the Neolithic period to the Tang Dynasty. Subsequent periods will be briefly analysed in relation to long-distance Eurasian connections, as well as the influence that past artistic production had on shaping modern Chinese art and culture.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Students will gain a general knowledge of the development of Chinese Art History and Archaeology from the Neolithic to the Tang Dynasty.
Students will develop a foundational knowledge of
- art and archaeology terminology specific to China;
- major Chinese works of art, artists and artistic styles from the periods studied;
- key archaeological sites and the production techniques related to Chinese material culture.
The course will emphasise the contextualization of the artistic production system: by re-placing objects in their original context, students will acquire adequate tools to understand why they were made, for whom, and by whom. This will allow students to understand, recognize and contextualize in time and space works of art, sites, styles, artists and consumers.
Students will develop a foundational knowledge of
- art and archaeology terminology specific to China;
- major Chinese works of art, artists and artistic styles from the periods studied;
- key archaeological sites and the production techniques related to Chinese material culture.
The course will emphasise the contextualization of the artistic production system: by re-placing objects in their original context, students will acquire adequate tools to understand why they were made, for whom, and by whom. This will allow students to understand, recognize and contextualize in time and space works of art, sites, styles, artists and consumers.
Periodo: annuale
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
annuale
Programma
Themes of the lectures of the two courses:
(First semester) China:
Prehistorical Art and Neolithic Civilizations of China
Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Chinese Dynasties
The search of immortality and Art in Early Imperial China
Buddhist Art in China during the period of Division
Cosmopolism and Opulence: Sui and Tang Dynasties
Song Dynasty and the birth of antiquarianism
Chinese Art under foreign rule: Yuan Dynasty
Art of the Ming Dynasty
Art at the court of the Qing
Cultural interactions and exchange at the end of the Chinese Empire
Contemporary Chinese Art: homeland and abroad
(Second semester) Japan:
Main Japanese art collections in Italy
Prehistorical sites and crafts in Japan: Jomon and Yayoi periods
Shintoism: symbols and rites, shrines, and natural sites
The arrive of Buddhism in Japan: temples, sculptures, paintings in Asuka and Nara period
The first Capital: Nara
The Imperial Court of Heian and Fujiwara family
Buddhist art production in the Heian period
The samurai culture and Zen buddhist philosophy: Kamakura period
Ashikaga shoguns and Muromachi flowering of zen related arts
Art production and samurai class power in Momoyama and Edo periods
Art production and the new merchant class: Edo period
Traditional motifs in contemporary productions
(First semester) China:
Prehistorical Art and Neolithic Civilizations of China
Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Chinese Dynasties
The search of immortality and Art in Early Imperial China
Buddhist Art in China during the period of Division
Cosmopolism and Opulence: Sui and Tang Dynasties
Song Dynasty and the birth of antiquarianism
Chinese Art under foreign rule: Yuan Dynasty
Art of the Ming Dynasty
Art at the court of the Qing
Cultural interactions and exchange at the end of the Chinese Empire
Contemporary Chinese Art: homeland and abroad
(Second semester) Japan:
Main Japanese art collections in Italy
Prehistorical sites and crafts in Japan: Jomon and Yayoi periods
Shintoism: symbols and rites, shrines, and natural sites
The arrive of Buddhism in Japan: temples, sculptures, paintings in Asuka and Nara period
The first Capital: Nara
The Imperial Court of Heian and Fujiwara family
Buddhist art production in the Heian period
The samurai culture and Zen buddhist philosophy: Kamakura period
Ashikaga shoguns and Muromachi flowering of zen related arts
Art production and samurai class power in Momoyama and Edo periods
Art production and the new merchant class: Edo period
Traditional motifs in contemporary productions
Prerequisiti
This is one of the mandatory courses for third year students attending the "Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World" degree. The course is constituted of two part, each running in consecutive semesters: the first covering China area, while the second covering Japan area. This course cannot be attended as a single course, students need to attend both semesters to pass the course exam.
There are no pre-requirements, but students are strongly encouraged to read texts about Chinese and Japanese history so to better understand the social and cultural context of the production of objects / architectures under study. Information on each historical period and additional readings will be provided at the beginning of each class. The professor is available to suggest introductory readings.
There are no pre-requirements, but students are strongly encouraged to read texts about Chinese and Japanese history so to better understand the social and cultural context of the production of objects / architectures under study. Information on each historical period and additional readings will be provided at the beginning of each class. The professor is available to suggest introductory readings.
Metodi didattici
The course is organised in lectures and seminars in presence with the use of PPT slide shows and focuses on the contextualisation of the artistic/architectural production following both a thematic and chronological order: by re-placing objects/architectures in their original context, students will acquire adequate tools to understand why they were made, for whom, and by whom. This will allow students to understand, recognise and contextualise in time and space works of art, sites, styles, artists and consumers. Some lessons can be done in museums, archives and libraries.
Materiale di riferimento
Bibliography/referral texts for both China and Japan courses are the same for both attending and non-attending students.
CHINA:
Reference texts (PDFs of specific chapters will be uploaded to moodle one week prior each lecture)
Mandatory:
Thorp, R.L., & Vinograd, R.E., 2001. Chinese Art & Culture. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ LIBRITESTO AOR CN 329
Additional readings
Campbell, R.B. 2014. Archaeology of the Chinese Bronze Age from Erlitou to Anyang. Los Angeles: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology.
Ca' Foscari: BAUM ARCHEO 931 CINA 20
Rawson, J. 2002. Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing. Chicago: Art Media Resources.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 361
Wu, H. 2010. The Art of the Yellow Springs. Understanding Chinese Tombs. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 473
La Statale: Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte, della musica e dello spettacolo Sez. di arte. 9L.G.ORI. ART. 013
Howard, A.F. 2006. Chinese Sculpture. New Haven London: Yale UP: Beijing Foreign Languages.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 600
Clunas, C, 2017. Chinese painting and its audiences (Vol. 61). Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 632
La Statale: Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte, della musica e dello spettacolo Sez. di arte. 9L.G.ORI. ART. 368
Canepa, T. 2016. Silk, Porcelain and Lacquer China and Japan and Their Trade with Western Europe and the New World 1500-1644. London: P. Holberton.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 737
JAPAN:
Reference texts (PDFs of specific chapters will be uploaded on myariel page one week prior each lecture)
Mandatory:
-Mason, Penelope, "History of Japanese Art", Prentice Hall and Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 2005
Suggested readings:
On Heian period:
- Carpenter, John T., Mc Cormick, Melissa, "The Tale of Genji. A Japanese classic illuminated", New York, THE MET 2019 (pdf online sito MET)
On Edo period ukiyoe:
-Menegazzo R., "Hokusai. The Master's Legacy", Skira 2017
On Edo period Rinpa school:
T. Carpenter, John, "Designing Nature. The Rinpa Aesthetic in Japanese Art", New York, THE MET 2012 (pdf online sito MET)
On Edo, Meiji, Contempoary arts:
-Menegazzo R., Lanza E., "Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga", Moebius 2026
CHINA:
Reference texts (PDFs of specific chapters will be uploaded to moodle one week prior each lecture)
Mandatory:
Thorp, R.L., & Vinograd, R.E., 2001. Chinese Art & Culture. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ LIBRITESTO AOR CN 329
Additional readings
Campbell, R.B. 2014. Archaeology of the Chinese Bronze Age from Erlitou to Anyang. Los Angeles: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology.
Ca' Foscari: BAUM ARCHEO 931 CINA 20
Rawson, J. 2002. Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing. Chicago: Art Media Resources.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 361
Wu, H. 2010. The Art of the Yellow Springs. Understanding Chinese Tombs. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 473
La Statale: Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte, della musica e dello spettacolo Sez. di arte. 9L.G.ORI. ART. 013
Howard, A.F. 2006. Chinese Sculpture. New Haven London: Yale UP: Beijing Foreign Languages.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 600
Clunas, C, 2017. Chinese painting and its audiences (Vol. 61). Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 632
La Statale: Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte, della musica e dello spettacolo Sez. di arte. 9L.G.ORI. ART. 368
Canepa, T. 2016. Silk, Porcelain and Lacquer China and Japan and Their Trade with Western Europe and the New World 1500-1644. London: P. Holberton.
Ca' Foscari: CFZ ARTE AOR CN 737
JAPAN:
Reference texts (PDFs of specific chapters will be uploaded on myariel page one week prior each lecture)
Mandatory:
-Mason, Penelope, "History of Japanese Art", Prentice Hall and Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 2005
Suggested readings:
On Heian period:
- Carpenter, John T., Mc Cormick, Melissa, "The Tale of Genji. A Japanese classic illuminated", New York, THE MET 2019 (pdf online sito MET)
On Edo period ukiyoe:
-Menegazzo R., "Hokusai. The Master's Legacy", Skira 2017
On Edo period Rinpa school:
T. Carpenter, John, "Designing Nature. The Rinpa Aesthetic in Japanese Art", New York, THE MET 2012 (pdf online sito MET)
On Edo, Meiji, Contempoary arts:
-Menegazzo R., Lanza E., "Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga", Moebius 2026
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The test in the first semester will be a written exam on Chinese Art, consisting of three parts, for a total of 45 minutes.
After both Chinese and Japanese courses will ended, starting from the exam of June, the test will take place for both the parts consecutively as a written test: first part on China (45 minutes) and second part on Japan (45 minutes).
ATTENTION: The students must pass the Chinese test first, to be admitted to the Japanese test.
Structure of the tests:
1- A set of multiple-choice questions (with four answer options per question)
2- A set of short-answer questions
3- A critical analysis of one work of art presented in picture
More specifically, the tests will weigh:
a) knowledge of the fundamental notions on Chinese and Japanese art and archaeology, architecture and crafts, included the basic terminology;
b) ability to describe formally a work of art;
c) ability to analyse stylistically a work of art;
d) ability to comment in critical-historical way a work of art.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths (pass mark: 18/30; maximum grade: 30 with honours/30)
The final grade of each part will be determined by the sum of the marks obtained in the 3 different sections in which the test is divided. The average of the two grades (China and Japan) will give the final grade.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
After both Chinese and Japanese courses will ended, starting from the exam of June, the test will take place for both the parts consecutively as a written test: first part on China (45 minutes) and second part on Japan (45 minutes).
ATTENTION: The students must pass the Chinese test first, to be admitted to the Japanese test.
Structure of the tests:
1- A set of multiple-choice questions (with four answer options per question)
2- A set of short-answer questions
3- A critical analysis of one work of art presented in picture
More specifically, the tests will weigh:
a) knowledge of the fundamental notions on Chinese and Japanese art and archaeology, architecture and crafts, included the basic terminology;
b) ability to describe formally a work of art;
c) ability to analyse stylistically a work of art;
d) ability to comment in critical-historical way a work of art.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths (pass mark: 18/30; maximum grade: 30 with honours/30)
The final grade of each part will be determined by the sum of the marks obtained in the 3 different sections in which the test is divided. The average of the two grades (China and Japan) will give the final grade.
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with disabilities should contact the teacher of the course to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
L-OR/20 - ARCHEOLOGIA, STORIA DELL'ARTE E FILOSOFIE DELL'ASIA ORIENTALE - CFU: 12
Lezioni: 80 ore
Docenti:
Dal Martello Rita, Menegazzo Rossella
Siti didattici
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
su appuntamento