The arts of Asia at the Detroit Institute of
Arts (DIA) from major geographic areas of China, Korea, Japan, India, and Southeast
Asia
are pathways to understanding these cultures.
The geography of the region as a whole is
marked by striking contrasts — from the high
mountain ranges of the Himalayas to remote
deserts such as the Gobi, to chains of islands,
fertile plains, and great rivers including the
Yangzi and Mekong.
For nearly five thousand years within these
varied surroundings, the civilizations of Asia
have produced art that testified to their
changing histories and cultural needs. Some
works of art were intended for religious
settings, ceremonial, or ritual use, others for
private viewing, burial, or commerce and trade.
Unrivaled in technical excellence, bronzes,
ceramics, lacquer wares, and silks were
hallmarks of the Asian countries from which they
came.
Looking closely at Asian works of art, we can
learn about belief systems developed centuries
ago and the continuity of those traditions
today. The individual qualities of a piece also
demonstrate how techniques and styles are
transplanted or duplicated as ideas flow from
place to place. Exchanges were made by itinerant
craftsmen, wandering pilgrims, and traders as
well as by conquests, wars, and the migrations
of people. Such cross-cultural influences and
exchanges are woven into the very fabric of
Asian art as seen through the
- Influence of Buddhism
- Importance of tea practices
- Celebration of the seasons
- Nature of well-wishing
- Representation of auspicious beasts
- Mastery of brush and ink
The works of art from the DIA selected for
this guide reflect in some way one or several
major cultural themes described above, while
highlighting what is unique to the work of art
and its country of origin.
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