Sections: Our Visits To China |
Chinese Art & Astrology
Sunny and I travel to China frequently each year to visit family, and look for exciting, creative, and emerging new artists. Sunny speaks Mandarin, the official language of China. Unlike the English language, Chinese Characters are individual pictures. Even though there are many different dialects, the written language is the same no matter where you travel. If you can memorize 4,000 Chinese characters you can read the newspaper.
"Where Heaven and Earth Meet"
Hangzhou is a two hour drive outside Shanghai.
"Where Heaven and Earth Meet", this is what the artists say about West Lake in Hangzhou. Sunny's mom lives in Hangzhou and likes to take walks around West Lake in the afternoon. On one of our walks we stopped to rest awhile and had a cup of tea. From where we sat the beauty of West Lake was breathtaking. Everywhere you turn is another picture to be painted. Colorful carp cruising through the lily pads, as dragonflies look for a safe place to land. Boats glide along in a mist on the lake surrounded with bountiful lotus along the waters edge. We saw many people with cameras and several Chinese artists capturing the beauty of this area.
Family Roots... The Village
A few years ago we went to visit the village where Sunny's father grew up. It is a few hours north of Beijing. We were told it was very primitive and had none of the basics we were use to. Sunny and I camp a lot, so I figured, how bad can it be? Much to our surprise we found ourselves in a bit of a time warp. A step back in time - 100 years or more. After leaving the hustle and bustle of the big cities we found the peacefulness soothing and the people of the village warm and inviting.
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We asked Sunny's family if we could visit the grade school in the village. They made arrangements for us to meet the principal and teachers and visit the classrooms. As it turned out I was the first Caucasian that had ever been to the village. I am tall, light skinned and blonde, so I was a real sight for the children in the village, as well as for the adults. Suddenly I became a celebrity. I was the talk of the village, and it made me have more empathy for how the monkey in the cage must feel. Our niece had never seen a foreigner before. Within a few minutes she took my hand and walked me around like she was showing off her best pony. I knew it was important to her, so I just smiled and took it in stride.
The Village Children's Art Project
In 2005 our niece Michelle, who lives in Gresham, Oregon organized an art project and went back to the village for 10 days. She brought watercolor paints, crayons and paper to the school. It was the first time the children had ever used such materials. It was a challenge at first to get the projects started. They had to pump water from the well in the school courtyard. They had nothing to mix the paints in, so the principal sent some of the children home to bring their rice bowls back. The paints were mixed in their rice bowls. North Gresham Grade School and the Gresham Lions Supper Club donated art supplies for this project. The proceeds from the sales will go back to the village school for future art supplies. The lesson plan for the children was to paint self-portraits. They were nervous at first and not sure how to start. Freethinking was a totally new concept for them. The children's self portraits turned out wonderful! To share them we have put the pictures on note cards and they are available online from The Han Collection.
In Chinese spiritual thought, the Lotus represents the purity and integrity that survives the muddy depths from which it emerges. Because of Buddhist influence, the lotus (or sea-rose) is one of the flowers Chinese artists paint most often. Many Chinese artists will refer to themselves as “the spirit of the lotus”. It is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. Chinese paintings with the lotus are elegant and may include birds or fish.
Original Chinese Paintings Depicting Birds & Flowers
In Chinese paintings with flowers often times you will see birds. In Chinese thought the combination of flower and bird represents harmony in nature. The Chinese Peony represents prosperity and the crane represents longevity.
Original Chinese Oil Paintings
Many of the oil paintings we have in our collection are painted from photographs and from other books of art. Kunming a city in southwestern China has the largest population of indigenous people in China. The women in many of the paintings are of these minority groups. The women are dressed in celebration costume with intricate headdress, clothing or necklace adornments as the focal objects in the painting. The paintings of the children wearing hats with intricate animal designs are typical of hats worn during the cold winter months throughout China.
Traditional Chinese Brush & Ink Paintings
When someone mentions Chinese painting one picture usually comes to mind. A scene of soaring peaks surrounded in a heavy mist with pine trees. A small pagoda, a thicket of bamboo and a winding path where tiny figures can be seen. The scene is usually painted or displayed on a hanging silk scroll. This is the essence of traditional Chinese art, which differs in almost every way from western art.
The Chinese artist uses only the briefest of brush strokes to conjure up the spirit of the picture. Chinese paintings are divided into two major categories: free hand brushwork (xieyi) and detailed brushwork (gongbi). Xieyi is characterized by simple and bold strokes intended to represent the likeness of the objects. Gongbi is fine Chinese brushwork and very detailed. Many Chinese painters will often add a poem on their paintings as well as a chop or seal as their signature. The artist who paints Traditional Chinese Brush and Ink style has had many years of training. The techniques of applying the build up of ink and color in gradual layers, using a few simple brush strokes can take years to master. In theory the Chinese artist becomes one with their work.
The Ancient Art of Chinese Calligraphy
Calligraphy is to the Chinese art collector, the ultimate art, because it is a marriage of painting and poetry. In many paintings you may see the artist include some Chinese writing as part of the painting. This is usually their deep personal thoughts about the symbols they have painted or the season of the year, or it could be a political statement.
The Influence of Chinese Astrology
Astrology is one of the most ancient Chinese art forms. For centuries it has been influential in the lives of all-Chinese, from emperors to peasants. The history of astrology is traced back thousands of years to a time when astrology and astronomy were the same. The first reference dates back 4000 years. Another 2000 years and we see where astrology was applied to individual fortunes. During the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907) personal readings based on astrology became popular and the art of Chinese fortune telling was born.
The Best of the Animal Within
The twelve animals are the most popular and most familiar aspect of the Chinese calendar in the West. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, one of the twelve animals takes its place for the year. Each animal rules once every twelve years and has its own particular characteristic. Here is a list of animal personalities. Find yours and have a good laugh.
The Dog: (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Loyal, honest, and a good leader the Dog gains the trust of others, is able to keep secrets
and is always a champion of justice. You usually finish anything started.
The Pig: (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1955, 2007, 2019)
Chivalrous and spirited you go at everything with all your strength with no retreat. You
possess fortitude, honesty and are loyal. The few friends you make, you make for life.
You desire knowledge and are well informed. You are affectionate to loved ones.
The Rat: (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
You are charming and attractive to the opposite sex, honest, basically thrifty and able
to show an outward calm. You are hard working to reach your goals. Once your start
something, you will finish it.
The Ox: (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)
Patient with deep thoughts. You inspire others to gain confidence. You are easy going and
alert mentally and physically.
The Tiger: (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)
Deep thinking and sensitive, the Tiger is able to give great sympathy. You are
courageous and powerful.
The Rabbit: (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
Talented, ambitious and quite lucky. You have very good taste and are somewhat
reserved. Trusted and loving to those close to you.
The Dragon: (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
You are healthy, full of energy and excitable. Honest, sensitive and brave you also create
trust and confidence in others.
The Snake: (1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
Speaking little you have great wisdom. You are financially lucky. Underneath the calm
surface is intense passion.
The Horse: (1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)
Popular, cheerful, and smart with the use of money. Wise and talented you are also good
with your hands. You love the attention of a large crowd.
The Ram: (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
Wise, gentle and compassionate the Ram shows elegance and is accomplished in the arts.
Although shy you have strong beliefs and passion for what you do.
The Monkey: (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
Clever, skillful, flexible and inventive. Able to solve difficult problems easily. You are
passionate and strong willed with a sharp memory.
The Rooster: (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
A deep thinker, capable, talented and a hard worker. You are timid and often a loner, but
are interesting and quite brave.
The Lunar Calendar
The Lunar Calendar is calculated according to the cycles of the moon, whereas the Western calendar is calculated to the orbit of the earth around the sun.
The Chinese believe you are born within certain parameters: your family circumstances and personality traits may have been determined; however your fate has not been set. Your own actions will shape the fortune in your life and thus you ultimately are the one that decided your fate.
The Beauty of Chinese Proverbs
The appeal of Chinese proverbs has always been popular. The beauty is in their simplicity. Their purpose is to give a direct message that will reach the heart and mind of the reader. These proverbs highlight truths in life that are real but often ignored or unrealized. Different regions of China have different versions, but the Chinese have a saying “that to truly know a people, know their proverbs”. The value of Chinese proverbs has only increased with time because they seem to ring just as true today as they have for thousands of years.
The Han Collection ships original paintings from China to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Palm Springs, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, San Fernando Valley, LA, Santa Monica, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, Saratoga, Portland, San Jose, Sunnyvale, San Mateo, Akron, Cincinnati, Reno, Tacoma, Miami, Cleveland, Riverside, Orange County, Detroit, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Diego, St Louis, Pittsburg, Tampa, Denver, Sacramento, Austin, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Memphis, Baltimore, Fort Worth, Charlotte, El Paso, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Fresno, New Orleans, Mesa, AZ, Virginia Beach, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Arlington, San Antonio and Newport Beach.
Should you have any questions about the Han Collection of original paintings from China, please don't hesitate to call.
