Contributions of China to Asia

Below are some of the many contributions of China in the Social, Cultural and Technological aspect.

Social Aspects...
-Legalism
-Standardized money, writing and language, and system of measurement
-Building of the Grea tWall of CHina
-Multiplication Table

Cultural Aspect
-Tea
-Paintings
-Taoism
-Calligraphy
-Chinese Opera, Theatre, and Music

Technological Aspect
-Gunpowder
-Paper Making
-Iron Technology (Cast Iron)
-Magnetic Compass
-Hot Air Balloon
-Porcelain
-Guns and Cannons
-Matches
-Umbrella

Taken from: http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/chinahist/dynasties.html

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Artifact One- Red Vase

Red Vase

It is said to be that a red pottery in the olden day is very rare. The purer the red on the pottery, the harder to make it, the rarer it is. It should be used to store water, as a decoration, grow plants with it etc. Modern day pots have more variety of deeper, darker, purer colours than in the past where most pots were white in background with another colour, commonly blue. Modern day pots also have more unique designs and some even have different textures of surface. Modern day pots are mostly used for designing of homes or places, rarely it is used for storage of things like water or sand etc.

Artifact Two- Guanyin with Baby Seated on Lion, 17th - 18th centuries

Guanyin with Baby Seated on Lion,
17th - 18th centuries
Gift of Frank and Pamela Hickley
2000.3369

This Guanyin figure is a fertility goddess, Songzi Guan yin or the 'giver of children'. It bears some resemblance to the "Madonna and child" images that were carved in ivory in Fujian for trade with the Spanish during the late Ming period (1368 -1644). The image of Madonna and child was probably a source inspiration for the Dehua depiction of Songzi Guanyin. This piece is relatively small, yet the folds of the robe, the fur of the lion and other intricate details have been carefully rendered. The function of this figure is nothing much but just a religious belief that when you have this figure of Guanyin, a fertility goddess, getting pregnant with a child would be easier in a sense. Modern day figures of god and goddess have better crafting work, features of the goddess or god is clearer and more detailed. Modern day figures also come in different materials such as bronze or even crystals and gold at times. The figures also are commonly used in temples, nowadays very few figures are being placed at home.

Artifact Three- Blue And White Vase

Blue and White Vase
Mid-to-late Kangxi period (1661-1722)
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province
Gift of the Tan family in memory of
Dr. Tan Tsze Chor
2002-80

The form of this vase is known as 'square mallet' and it was a popular shape during Qing period (1644-1911). The case is decorated with the text and scenes from the famous literacy work 'Earlier and Later Odes to the Red Cliff'. Written by Su Shi 苏轼(1037-1101), the 'Odes' expresses his thoughts about eternal cosmos and the fleeting nature of human life. The 'Odes; was a popular theme for Chinese painters and calligraphers alike. Vase of this size and mass probably be used by the chinese as a decoration, this is because the pot is too heavy and fragile to be carried around storing items such as water. Modern day pots have more variety of deeper, darker, purer colours than in the past where most pots were white in background with another colour, commonly blue. Modern day pots also have more unique designs and some even have different textures of surface. Modern day pots are mostly used for designing of homes or places, rarely it is used for storage of things like water or sand etc.