Ancient Asian Design

​Ancient Asian Design

HISTORY OF INTERIORS I | FALL 2022​

Poll

Attendance... How are you?

• So excited to learn about Indian and Chinese design!

• Is it Friday yet?!

​Hindhu & Buddhist Design

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​INDIA

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Indus Valley (3300-1700 BC)

(1500 BC: Aryans Settle = Caste System/Brahmanism)​

Evolves into Hinduism​; Buddhism opposes

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​Harappan

Civilization​

• ​Originally referred to the people living in India (13th century). 18th century: refers to Indic rel​igion

• Universal spirit (Brahman) "world soul"

  • Hindhu God of creation

• Worship - Darhshan: auspicious sight

  • Going to temple to see god

• Caste System: Not every religious practice can be undertaken by all members of society.​

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Hinduism

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• Prince Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha

• ​Anyone who understood the teachings of the Buddha could achieve salvation.

• "Man is his own master and there is no higher being or power that sits in judgment over his destiny". (Khan Academy).

• Worship: Meditation​

Buddhism​

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• ​Metallurgy: the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.

• Large exporter of Steel​

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Iron Pillar of Delhi - Erected Before 5th Century BC

​Indian Advancements

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• ​Stepwells: Large trench with steps to reach down to water level.

• Served social purpose as well. (Built through the 17th century!)

• Gifts to the goddesses - associated structures and ornamentation

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​Chand Baori (Stepwell from Indus Valley) - 13 stories deep = India's largest + deepest stepwell)

​Indian Advancements

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​OVERALL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES:

• ​Lack of interior spaciousness

• Minute ornament on almost every surface

• Horizontal bands/lines

​​Hindu Architecture

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• ​Ste​pped structures set on platforms

• Form arises from ornament vs. structure​

• Precise and harmonious geometry when viewed from all four sides and above​

​Sun Temple of Koranak, 13th century India

​Gopura & Nataraja Temple, 12th century India.

​Brihadisvara Temple, 1011 AD

​-A place of burial or a receptacle for religious objects. "Place of enlightenment" -Main focal point for a Buddhist monastic complex

​-CIRCUMABULATION​: walk around clockwise

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Four Noble Truths:

1. life is suffering (suffering=rebirth)

2. the cause of suffering is desire

3. the cause of desire must be overcome

4. when desire is overcome, there is no more suffering (suffering=rebirth)​

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Stupas​

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​​Buddhist Architecture

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Great Stupa at Sanchi​

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​https://smarthistory.org/the-stupa-sanchi/

Multiple Choice

What is Metallurgy?

• Large trench with steps to reach down to water level.

• The branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.

• A place of burial or a receptacle for religious objects.

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What is the main focal point for a Buddhist monastic complex? (A burial mound)

• Stepwell

• Stupa

• Temple

• Pillar

Fill in the Blanks

​Invention, Repetition & Perfection​

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​CHINA

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Hsai or Xia (2100 - 1600 BC)

Shang​ (1766 - 1123 BC)

Zhou or Chou (1122 -225 BC)

Qin or Ch'in (255 - 206 BC)

Han​ ( 206 - AD 220)

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​Chinese Dynasty

Cultivation of silk worms in order to produce silk.​

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Large scale production: Chinese Shang and Zhou dynasties in the 2nd millennium BCE.​

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Byzantine Empire steals silkworms​... Conquering by the Ottomans, who then close silk road = Age of discovery (Columbus looking for China, European colonization)

The Silk Road​: established by Han dynasty, 4000 miles long, bringing Buddhist religion to China (example).

​Sericulture

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​c. 4500 BC

Sap of lac tree; durable and resistant to water, insects, alkalis and acids. (Complex process - 21+ steps)

Imitated in Europe​ (shellac)

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​Lacquer

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​Replaced bamboo strips and silk with paper made of rag (Han Dynasty; c. AD 105)

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Taught the Arabs ... later introduced to Europe (13th century)​

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​Paper

Multiple Choice

Which is not attributed to Chinese innovation?

• Sericulture

• Lacquer

• Metallurgy (Steel)

• Paper

Theory of opposites (4th century BC)​; balance

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Foundation of Chinese principle and medicine

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#9: "everlasting" longevity, good luck

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​Yin: Black, darkness, even numbers, females, earth, Yang: White, warmth, living, odd numbers, males, heaven, sun

​Yin and Yang

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• Beijing (today)

• Political and ritual center of China for over 500 years​

• ​9,999.5 rooms, 9 dragons, 9 spikes

• Wood construction, ornate, symmetry...

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​The Forbidden City

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​​What?

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(chi) ​Cosmic breath that created the universe, permeates everything and affects well-being.

​​Qi

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​Feng Shui

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​Ancient Chinese concept that the arrangement of space affects harmony wtih the environment by affecting qi.

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(chi) ​Cosmic breath that created the universe, permeates everything and affects well-being.

Bagua Map

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKft4ICJ3T0&t=221s​

​Assignment​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphrU2IXLu4​

​STEP ONE

​STEP TWO

STEP THREE: Sketch your home/ apartment in plan.

STEP FOUR: Apply the Bagua map on top of the plan.

STEP FIVE: Analyze your current space in regards to Fung Shei principles; what do you notice about your space? What areas might you be lacking? What can you change/add to create better Qi? ETC!

STEP SIX: Upload to D2L (image of plan with bagua map and thoughtful responses)

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphrU2IXLu4

ALSO: for Furniture layout this is super helpful! ​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsBPqO3pv_Y

​DUE: Tuesday 10/11