Poetry and Painting in Song China

Name: Poetry and Painting in Song China
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9780674007826
Price: 105.0 NZD
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The Subtle Art of Dissent

By Alfreda Murck

Series: Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series

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Summary

In Poetry and Painting in Song China, Alfreda Murck explores how landscape painting during the Song dynasty became a refined vehicle for political dissent. By analysing literary archetypes, inscriptions, and the historical context, the book reveals how elite painters encoded critiques of government policies within their work, blending artistry with subtle political commentary.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$105⁰⁰

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Poetry and Painting in Song China

$105⁰⁰

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Ideal for readers interested in Chinese art, history, and political expression, particularly those fascinated by the subtle interplay between visual culture and governmental critique in imperial China.

During the Song dynasty (960–1278), some of China’s elite found an elegant and subtle means of dissent: landscape painting. By examining literary archetypes, painting titles, contemporary inscriptions, and the historical context, Murck shows that certain paintings expressed strong political opinions—some transparent, others deliberately concealed.

Description

Throughout the history of imperial China, the educated elite used various means to criticise government policies and actions. During the Song dynasty (960-1278), some members of this elite found an elegant and subtle means of dissent: landscape painting.

By examining literary archetypes, the titles of paintings, contemporary inscriptions, and the historical context, Alfreda Murck shows that certain paintings expressed strong political opinions—some transparent, others deliberately concealed. She argues that the coding of messages in seemingly innocuous paintings was an important factor in the growing respect for painting among the educated elite and that the capacity of painting's systems of reference to allow scholars to express dissent with impunity contributed to the art's vitality and longevity.

Poetry and Painting in Song China is an insightful exploration into how art, especially painting, served as a nuanced medium for political commentary and expression during this period.