Pictorial Representation of Confucius and Others
Portraits of Confucius and his followers were created during and after their times in heavy proliferation. While not many of these images remain due to their fragile nature, the few that are still relatively intact exhibit an amazing insight into the lives of their subjects. There is little mention of visual art or painting in the analects, but with Confucius’ thoughts on music being so positive, one can safely assume that he would have at least looked upon the visual arts as favorably as he did the auditory. In A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy the author Wing-Tsit Chan tells the story of Prince Yuan. He says
“When Prince Yuan of Sung was about to have a portrait painted, all official painters …show more content…
In the beginning it had only a local significance, only the princes of Lu and the disciples offering sacrifices at certain times of the year. That is until the first emperor of Han passed through the country of Lu in 195 CE and sacrificed at the tomb of the sage. This action marks the beginnings of national worship of Confucius. This also prompted three emperors of the Han dynasty, Ming-ti, Cheng-ti, and Zhang-ti, to offer sacrifices in honor of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples. These sacrifices were presented to several kinds of visual representations of Confucius. Sculptures in Confucian temples received regular sacrifices, and displayed imperial garb. Several of these temple sculptures were even draped in accouterments related to posthumous honors bestowed upon Confucius by these …show more content…
In each of these temples there are paintings and images of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples. In 194 CE, the prefect of I-chou erected a hall in which to perform rites on behalf of Confucius. On the walls of this hall, he had images of past emperors and kings painted. On the beams, he had images of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples, as well as other famous sages, carved into the stone beams. These beam carvings consist of approximately 168 figures, and depict many different themes, including Confucius visiting Laozi, Confucius’ life, and the teaching of several of his
Portraits of Confucius and his followers were created during and after their times in heavy proliferation. While not many of these images remain due to their fragile nature, the few that are still relatively intact exhibit an amazing insight into the lives of their subjects. There is little mention of visual art or painting in the analects, but with Confucius’ thoughts on music being so positive, one can safely assume that he would have at least looked upon the visual arts as favorably as he did the auditory. In A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy the author Wing-Tsit Chan tells the story of Prince Yuan. He says
“When Prince Yuan of Sung was about to have a portrait painted, all official painters …show more content…
In the beginning it had only a local significance, only the princes of Lu and the disciples offering sacrifices at certain times of the year. That is until the first emperor of Han passed through the country of Lu in 195 CE and sacrificed at the tomb of the sage. This action marks the beginnings of national worship of Confucius. This also prompted three emperors of the Han dynasty, Ming-ti, Cheng-ti, and Zhang-ti, to offer sacrifices in honor of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples. These sacrifices were presented to several kinds of visual representations of Confucius. Sculptures in Confucian temples received regular sacrifices, and displayed imperial garb. Several of these temple sculptures were even draped in accouterments related to posthumous honors bestowed upon Confucius by these …show more content…
In each of these temples there are paintings and images of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples. In 194 CE, the prefect of I-chou erected a hall in which to perform rites on behalf of Confucius. On the walls of this hall, he had images of past emperors and kings painted. On the beams, he had images of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples, as well as other famous sages, carved into the stone beams. These beam carvings consist of approximately 168 figures, and depict many different themes, including Confucius visiting Laozi, Confucius’ life, and the teaching of several of his