Fine Arts of China [CD-ROM]

Hopkins Technology (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

A Spectacular Visual Encyclopedia of the Arts and Architecture of China, including over 400 exquisite full-color photos with extensive tutorials. This is a must-have collection for art-lovers, students, educators, family libraries and all those interested in the culture, history and artisans of China.

This series of exquisite color photographs represents the very best of Chinese Art from the last 10,000 years. Never before has such a fine collection been assembled in one place. These photos represent art as old as the Neolithic age (10,000 years ago) and as fresh as today's dynamically changing China!

This multimedia CD-ROM covers a wide range of art:

Ancient Sculpture: Neolithic animal shaped pots, bronze and pottery heads and figurines, lacquered wooden figurines, terracotta clay figures of weaponed soldiers, horses, and chariots, granite and stone animals, painted clay sculptures, limestone statues, and more.

Arts & Crafts: Folk art, New Year paintings, paper cuts, painted clay figures and sculptures, stone lions, Mian Hua (dough flower crafts), embroidered sweetgrass bags, leather-silhouette show, colorful kites and more.

Ancient Painting: Tomb and cave frescoes, silk paintings, brick and stone carvings, Han Xizai's Night Feast by Gu Hongzhong of the Five Dynasties Period, and more.

Ancient Fine Art: Neolithic painted pottery, glazed pottery, KESI silk crafted fabrics, embroidery and brocade, bronze gold and silver wares and more.

Modern Fine Art: Figure paintings, flower and bird paintings, water-ink on paper paintings, oil paintings, caricatures, and more.

Ancient Architecture: The Great Wall, Anji single-arched bridge, Beijing Palace Museum, Tian An Men gate, gates of the Forbidden City, architectural drawings, Temple of Heaven, suspending temples, Summer Palace, numerous pagodas, typical residences and more.

The lavishly explained text with each photo provides fascinating historical and descriptive detail superbly written by Professor Xi Chuanji, the Director of Art History Research at the Nanjing Institute of Fine Arts. Full-text search capability allows fast, easy access to any word or phrase. English text descriptions with rich history and detail provide an in-depth understanding of the visuals. Maps show the locations of the photography and museums.

The photos can be power zoomed to inspect the intricate detail of each piece. As a pleasant addition, enchanting music created especially for this series can be played at your leisure.

At one time it was generally forbidden in China for anyone - tourist or citizen - to approach the site of these treasures with a camera; let alone take a picture. These photos were graciously supplied by the government of the People's Republic of China.

Requires Windows 95 and CD-ROM drive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Descriptive annotations provide interesting background and aid in more critical viewing of the artwork represented. Type font is large and easy to read. Optional music is attractive and will help hold students' attention. Fine Arts of China is a broad and unusual collection of images that has not been widely viewed or photographed. It will be useful for research and for supplementing art or world history units on Chinese culture. (Advisory List of Instructional Technology, Public Schools of NC, Summer 95)

Fine Arts of China brings more than 4,000 years of Chinese painting, sculpture, crafts, and architecture to life on the computer screen. -- Information Today, May 95

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Anji Bridge at Zhao county, Hebei, Constructed in the Daye Period of Sui dynasty (AD605-617) The Anji Bridge, commonly known as the Zhaozhou Bridge, is the oldest and the most famous single-arched bridge in China. It lies across the Xiaohe river at Zhao county, Hebei, with a length of 50.82m and a span of 37,02m, looking magnificent and elegant. Designed by a renowned architect of Sui dynasty, Li Chun, it reflects the perfect marriage of technology and art. For over 1,300 years, it has survived earth quakes, floods, erosions and using. Today it still has its charm which lies is its first structure of one big arc, carrying four small ones in the world, as well as its old age and big span. This unique and beautiful structure can ease the force which is brought on the bridge by floods. In Europe, the first bridge of the same structure appeared in the middle of the 19th century, more than 1,200 years after the birth of the Anji Bridge.

Product Details

• CD-ROM
• Publisher: Hopkins Technology; 1.0 for Win95 edition (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188664909X
• ISBN-13: 978-1886649095
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,715,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)