The first book to place ming furniture design within the context of chinese. Like many ming and ching novels that followed it, romance of the three kingdoms is a mix of accurate history and imaginative fiction. The ming period furniture is comparatively new, dating to the 17th century. Prior to the ming dynasty, china had been ruled by the yuan dynasty. Make chinese furniture a living part of your home, she suggests.
A ming porcelain jar with a scene of cavalrymen fighting, from the reign of the jiajing emperor 15221566, guimet museum, paris. The history of ming dynasty the ming dynasty also called the great ming empire was the ruling dynasty of china from 68 to 1644, though claims to the ming throne now collectively called the southern ming survived until 1662. Ming furniture dates from the end of the ming dynasty, a transitional time in chinese history. I occasionally get asked to recommend good chinese history books that are wellresearched but also accessible to a general readership. She has seen clients actively use everything from tables to bookshelves. Ship out in 2 business day, and fast shipping, free tracking number will be provided after the shipment. The yuan had been beset by famines, plagues, floods, widespread banditry, and peasant uprisings. In fact, one of her clients placed an ordinary mattress on a ming dynasty bed. Ming poetry and chinese art and literature in general is marked by 2 transitional phases, the transition between the yuan dynasty which was the predecessor to the ming, and the qing ming transition which eventually resulted in the succeeding qing dynasty. Ming dynasty period furniture was not fancifully designed for the sake of design.
Golden age good looks, given a contemporary spin through the use of exquisite materials such as brass and marble. The ming dynasty is often called the last of the great chinese dynasties. By most of history books the latermiddle ming dynasty period ends at 1590 a. A civil war between rival mongol princes breaks out in 28. Chinese hardwood furniture of the ming and early qing dynasties. The story unfolds in five parts following strong characters and a pace that builds up as the tale is told through the mouth of an old woman storyteller. The ming dynasty is very much seen as the golden age of furniture production in china, says marco almeida, international senior specialist in chinese ceramics and works of art. Just having retured from china and tibet, this book was in the back of my mind as i stood and gazed up at the columns and beams mortised and tenoned together to form the typical chinese structural backbone. In the 17th century china, ming furniture marks the peak of chinese furniture history. Meanwhile, many scientific and technical books on cabinetmaking came into. Design guidelines for designing ming dynasty style furniture suited. It was the last ethnic han led dynasty in china, supplanting the mongol led yuan dynasty before falling to the manchuled qing dynasty. Masterpieces from the museum of classical chinese furniture. The ming dynasty ruled over china from 68 ad through 1644 ad.
Neolithic art in china 75002000 bce shang dynasty art 16001050 bce zhou dynasty art 1050. The economy of the ming dynasty 681644 of china was the largest in the world during that period. The mingshi the official history of the ming dynasty compiled by the qing dynasty in 1739 states that the ming established itinerant commanderies overseeing tibetan administration while also renewing titles of exyuan dynasty officials from tibet and conferring new princely titles on leaders of tibetan buddhist sects. Shixiang 1999 stated in the book, this category can be. Contents introduction architecture painting pottery decorative arts and crafts. The ming, described by some as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history, 5 was the last dynasty in china ruled by ethnic han chinese. Classical chinese furniture is surprisingly sturdy, cheng points out. Sarah handler has been professor of chinese art history at ucla and the university. Chinese ming dynasty furniture a bed was not just for sleeping. Chinese furniture hardwood examples of the ming and early ching dynasty.
The ming dynasty 23 january 68 25 april 1644, officially the great ming or empire of the. Pdf research on ming dynasty huanghuali wood officials hat. A backrest was a must so a scholar could either read books or enjoy the beautiful scenery. For the historical text and source book, see history of ming. The ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of china from 68 to 1644. The fact that the samples of that epoch are for the first time presented in russia shows that our countries reached wonderful relations not only in the political sphere, military affairs, trade and economic relations but also in the cultural field. Ming dynasty art 681644 history, types and characteristics. The ming dynasty furniture is still influencing the antique furniture market deeply. Chinese history ming dynasty, 681644, chinese history. This sacred site is actually a unique landmark among so many others in china, because of its layout.
Often regarded as the golden age of chinese furniture, the ming collection draws inspiration from the uplifting lines of the ming dynasty. Ming dynasty furniture collection popular woodworking magazine. Ming ming, dynasty of china that ruled from 68 to 1644. In the west, the term horseshoe armchair describes of the shape of the armrest. The ming storytellers opens a world of the imagination and history beyond what we could imagine. The ming rule lasted till the late 17th century and the art, culture, literature and traits of the ming dynasty can be most closely related to modern day china.
This article is about the history of the ming dynasty. Pdf a comparative study of 17th century ming and western. Its rounded backrest and smooth, downward sloping armrest are exceptionally comfortable for supporting the elbows and arms. So as a mild public service, here it ismy 5 books about the qing dynasty. Dynasty 16441911, furniture followed ming patterns and styles. Representing the zenith of chinese furniture, ming furniture is treasured for its precious wood, comfortable design, simple decoration and superb craftsmanship. The ming dynasty, also empire of the great ming, was the ruling dynasty of china for 276 years 681644 following the collapse of the mongolled yuan dynasty. After the dynasty collapsed a loyalist group referred to as the southern ming fled to the city of nanjing. Known for its trade expansion to the outside world that. Although in politicodynastic terms, the dynastic leadership of china is historically. Chinese traditional furniture has an extremely long history, which can be.
Most of the furniture is made from prized materials, even for the chinese, like huanghuali which the owner also called yellow rosewood, and zitan, which is as dense and black as gabon ebony. Ming furniture an asian private collection sothebys. The hongwu emperor, hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk, 14th. The yuan dynasty was set up by the mongols who had conquered china about 100 years earlier. The first ming emperor, chu yuanchang ruled 6898, a former buddhist monk, joined a rebellion in progress, gained control of it, overthrew the mongol yuan dynasty, and unified all of china proper. Shop ming furniture at 1stdibs, the worlds largest source of ming and other authentic period furniture. When most people think of chinese furniture, they are thinking of the ornate style and pieces of the late qing dynasty. The ming dynasty was established following the collapse of the mongol rule of china, known as the yuan dynasty 127168 ce.
See more ideas about chinese furniture, furniture and antique chinese furniture. Chinese furniture of the ming dynasty has clean, elegant lines with graceful latticed details. The year china discovered america by gavin menzies, the ming storytellers by laura rahme, the death of woman wang by. The ming dynasty ruled over the empire of the great ming da ming guo, as china was then known. Zhu, who was of humble origins, later assumed the reign title of hongwu. This superb private collection of ming furniture, carefully assembled under the expertise of grace wu bruce, includes eight outstanding furniture items and ten tabletop pieces.
It is regarded as one of chinas three golden ages the other two being the han and song periods. Ming dynasty gave way to the quing period, which lasted till 1911 ad. During the beginning and the middle of the ming dynasty, austerity was a government edict. In agriculture, both the food output and the implements of production surpassed that of the song and yuan dynasties. Aug 14, 2019 classical chinese furniture is surprisingly sturdy, cheng points out. However, over the centuries, the chinese have explored all sort of styles, including the wonderfully austere and elegant hardwood pieces of the late ming dynasty, now prized around the world for their beauty and timelessness. But a series of disasters in the early 14th century unsettles the dynasty. The author wrote an excellent book on the great east asian war 15921600 and an account of early modern chinese military history. Kublai khans grandson and successor, timur, contrives to keep order in the empire for a few years after the great khans death in 1294. Following a current strain of thought, swope does not see a predestined decline in the ming dynasty. In the same historical period as china during the ming and qing. Ming poetry and chinese art and literature in general is marked by 2 transitional phases, the transition between the yuan dynasty which was the predecessor to the ming, and the qingming transition which eventually resulted in the succeeding qing dynasty.
Economically, the ming dynasty was a period during which the feudal society began to show the declining trend while the capitalism started to originate. Ming qing jiaju diaoke yishu art of ming and qing furniture carving. Cupboards for books and antiques varied in size and style. This elegantly simple table would have been used to hold books, small objects, or the chinese zither qin. The period was marked by the increasing political influence of the merchants, the gradual weakening of imperial rule, and technological advances. By the ming dynasty, it developed into one of the most graceful chair forms of traditional furniture. Nov 02, 2017 the ming dynasty is very much seen as the golden age of furniture production in china, says marco almeida, international senior specialist in chinese ceramics and works of art. Ming dynasty is a very interesting period in the centuriesold history of china. A backrest was a must so a scholar could either read books or enjoy the. Ming furniture in the light of chinese architecture. Its rectilinear design and butterflycorner legs with stretchers are derived from early box construction. Being a fan of sarah handler, its easy to feel the furniture flow through the ming architecture. Ming dynasty project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Both ming and qing furniture had a stong influence on english and french furniture, notably through chippendale and hepplewhite in the 18th century. The ming became one of the most stable but also one of the most autocratic of all chinese dynasties. Novels of the ming and early ching dynasties critical essays. A ming imperial table entirely covered in carved lacquer, now in london, is one of the finest survivals of the period. The mongol rulers also squabbled amongst themselves for power and failed to quash numerous rebellions, including that. List of books and articles about china, ming dynasty online. Five books about qing history jottings from the granite studio. Traditional chinese furniture, ming and qing dynasties furnishings. Ancient origins articles related to ming dynasty in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. The ming dynasty replaced the yuan dynasty which had ruled china for approximately 100 years. Jul 25, 2012 the ming storytellers opens a world of the imagination and history beyond what we could imagine. Chinese furniture traditionally consisted of four distinct categories, all formed by the mid qing dynasty, but each with its own unique characteristics.
Learn about chinese furnitures wonderful history in art. As with other books in this series, brook focuses on major themes rather than a. China ming dynasty facts ancient chinese dynasties facts. These objects were recently on display at the taft museum in cincinnati. The ming dynasty, which succeeded the yuan mongol dynasty 120668, was founded by zhu yuanzhang.
Later another minority, the mam people, from the north defeated the han people in 1644 and established the ching dynasty. The author discusses the history of furniture making in china and details the different kinds of wood, construction, and joinery. The owner of this private collection studied fine arts in his youth and took a keen interest in the connoisseurship and history of chinese furniture. Traditional chinese furniture, ming and qing dynasties.
The ming dynasty tomb is a memorial site where approximately emperors and 23 empresses were buried. As one of the unique and special techniques in china, the mortise and tenon structure has a long history and is the core of the chinesestyle furniture, which is. From the early period, the handicraft industry in the southern areas. It was founded by zhu yuanzhang, who proclaimed himself emperor in yingtian. Chinese history ming dynasty, 681644, chinese history, books. It was a period of native chinese leadership that came in between mongol and manchu rule. Just having retured from china and tibet, this book was in the back of my.
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