The Arts of China to A.D. 900 [Hardcover]

William Watson (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Yale University Press Pelican Histor | Publication Date: October 25, 1995

This work is the first in a three volume series that surveys China's wealth of art, architecture and artefacts from prehistoric times to the 20th century. It investigates the beginnings of the traditions on which much of the art rests, moving from Neolithic and Bronze Age China to the era of the Tang Dynasty around AD 900. The book discusses in detail a wide range of art forms and techniques: porcelain and pottery, lacquer art, religious and secular painting and sculpture, mural painting, monumental sculpture and architecture. It explains the materials and techniques of bronze casting, jade carving, pottery manufacture, and other arts and describes the most important sites, the artefacts that were produced at each one, and the historical interactions between different areas. There is a discussion of the iconography, the technique and the function of every art form. This book should be a valuable resource for both experts and beginners in the field.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Presented in an elegant slipcase is this college-level reference, the first in a major three-volume series to explore China's art and architectural development. A range of art forms and techniques is explored in this excellent coverage, outstanding in its detail, color photo illustrations, and scope. Pelican History of Art: Arts of China to AD 900 is highly recommended! -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

William Watson is emeritus professor of Chinese art and archaeology at the University of London. Yale University Press Pelican History of Art series Also available, Watson: The Arts of China 900-1700, vol. II (ISBN 0 300 07393 3, #50.00*/$75.00*). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (October 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300059892
• ISBN-13: 978-0300059892
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,933,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Terribly edited, good illustrations, November 25, 2004

By 

Alfredo Pizzirani (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Arts of China to A.D. 900 (Paperback)

This book is finely illustrated - good choice of items, and good-quality photographs (at least for objects still extant). Its companion book, by the same author, covers the history of Chinese Art to 1620. The third book in the series has not been published yet (2010 update: it is out now).
The text uses pinyin transliteration throughout, a big plus since this is what is used in mainland China today; for example, it makes things easier if you plan to travel to see some of the objects described.
The shortcomings, however, are significant. First of all, the location of the objects illustrated is not always stated, nor is this information provided in a separate list. Second, the style of the writer is appaling! Sentences are so twisted, they sound like a machine translation from Chinese! I had to read sentences twice or three times to figure out their meaning. The editors of the series should really have invested a lot more in revising the language for clarity.
Last, the book does not seem to pay much attention to the implications of recent archaelogical discoveries.
I would suggest Michael Sullivan's "The Arts of China" to the non-specialist looking for an introduction; the volume in the Oxford History of Art series seems very good too.