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Chinese Art: The Search for Elegance 追求雅致的中國藝術 撰文及考題設計 British Council 英協教育中心 Brian Welter 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）
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中國的文字總是扮演雙重角色：從宮廷傳播重
Chinese art takes many forms, from ceramics
要資訊到民間，同時展現美學與創意。書寫的藝術
and landscape paintings to calligraphy and carvings.
「書法」成為中華文化的精髓，千年以來發展出許
Throughout the centuries, the emperors played a
多不同流派。
vital role in developing and promoting these arts. Some, such as Taizong (598-649), were also artists
Painting, particularly of landscapes, has been
themselves. Emperor Hsuan Tsung (1399-1435) was
equally important throughout Chinese history.
an accomplished calligrapher and painter. In his
Often, scenes of mountains contrast with a lake
artwork he depicted the countryside, individuals,
or river far below. People, including farmers or
flowers, birds, and even insects.
fishermen, are depicted as being very small against
中國藝術有許多型式，從陶瓷、山水畫到書法
towering mountains. The effect is to emphasise
與雕刻，縱觀幾世紀以來，帝王在這些藝術的發
humans’ insignif icance compared to nature’s
展與提倡上居功厥偉，有些帝王，如唐太宗（598-
greatness. Perhaps this was the Chinese way of
649）本身即是藝術家，明宣宗（1399-1435）的書法
encouraging humility.
與繪畫更是自成一家，鄉間山水、人物、乃至花鳥
繪畫，特別是山水畫，在整個中國歷史上的角色
草蟲都是他的畫作主題。
同樣重要，浩渺的群山映照著下方河流或湖泊是
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常見的意境。人物，諸如農人或漁夫，對應著高聳
Chinese writing has always played a dual role,
的群山被描繪地非常渺小，如此意境用以強調在
spreading important information from the imperial
偉大的自然之中人類的微不足道。也許這是中國文
court to the provinces while also expressing beauty
化提倡謙卑的方式。
and creativity. Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, became a mainstay of Chinese culture. Over the centuries, many different styles have developed.
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全球中央 January
2018
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T he Five D y na st ie s pe r iod(907-960) saw impor tant developments in Chinese painting.