A SMALL DICTIONARY OF CHINESE ART - MIECZYSŁAW JERZY KUNSTLER

Discover the fascinating world of Chinese art with the small dictionary by Mieczysław Jerzy Kunstler. This compendium of knowledge will introduce you to the richness and complexity of Chinese culture. Learn the secrets of painting, sculpture, and architecture of the Middle Kingdom. Immerse yourself in the history and symbolism that have shaped Chinese art for centuries.

• Durability of canons: Chinese art is characterized by the extraordinary durability of its basic canons and the slow evolution.
• Accumulation of styles: New styles do not eliminate the previous ones, but modify the existing forms.
• Special relationship to man: In contrast to European art, Chinese art does not focus on man, but on the landscape.
• Compendium of knowledge: The book contains answers to questions about various areas of Chinese art.
• Features of Chinese art: Learn the most important concepts and themes addressed by Chinese artists.
• Cultural differences: Understand the differences between the canons of Chinese and European art.

Chinese art, with its deep history and unique features, is a fascinating area to explore. The great durability of the basic canons and the slow evolution make it extremely coherent and recognizable. In contrast to Western art, in China, a new style did not completely eliminate the previous style, but only limited itself to quantitative modifications of already existing forms. This makes Chinese art rich in layers and nuances that are worth discovering.

The special relationship of Chinese art to man is another feature that distinguishes it. In contrast to European art, Chinese artists do not focus on man, but on the landscape. Man is only a fragment of the landscape, which is an independent theme, independent of the human figure. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the relationship between man and nature in Chinese culture.

Mieczysław Jerzy Kunstler (1933-2007) was an outstanding sinologist, head of the Institute of Sinology at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw. His work and research contributed to the popularization of knowledge about China in Poland and in the world. He is the author of over three hundred works on the subjects of linguistics, history, culture and art of China, published in many languages, including Chinese. His contribution to the development of sinology is invaluable.

This book is a handy compendium of knowledge about Chinese art, which will answer many questions and allow for a better understanding of this fascinating field. The reader will find here the most important concepts related to various areas of the art of the Middle Kingdom, learn what distinguishes Chinese art, what topics are most often taken up by artists and how it differs from the canons of European art. It is the ideal read for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of Chinese art and culture.