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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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T he Five D y na st ie s pe r iod(907-960) saw impor tant developments in Chinese painting.
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中國藝術最為西方所知的是陶瓷。圖為一名蘇富比拍賣公司 員工站在清朝乾隆時期的陶瓷作品前。（美聯社）
Flowers and birds were common themes, alongside
as the side of a mountain or a waterfall. Bamboo
religious subjects. In the court of the Southern Tang
symbolises purity and dignity.
dynasty between 937 and 975, an official painting
中國人對竹子的著迷同時也影響了藝術。許多
school was founded, signaling deeper involvement
繪畫以一叢竹林或單枝在風中搖曳或優雅地垂地
of royal authorities in art.
為特色。竹子同樣被用來當作建材、家具乃至筆筒
中國繪畫在五代十國時期（907-960）出現重要 發展，花鳥畫與宗教性題材成為畫作主題，南唐 （937-975）宮廷畫，有了官方繪畫學院的創設，顯 現了官方在藝術上更深一層的影響力。
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等日常用品，這些日常用品常被雕刻傳統中國藝術 的意境，例如山景與瀑布。竹象徵純潔與尊嚴。
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However, China may be best known to westerners for its ceramics, including plates, dishes, and vases.
The Chinese appreciation of bamboo impacted
Porcelain, which requires greater heat than normal
art. Many paintings feature either a small patch
ceramics, is the glassy finish to plates, bowls, and
of bamboo forest or an individual plant gracefully
vases that developed in the Middle Kingdom. In
swaying in the wind or gently curving towards the
English, such dishware became known as “china”
earth. Bamboo as a material has been used in ar-
and was a great source of fascination for Europeans.
chitecture, furniture, and household goods such as
Until the eighteenth century, the technique for
pencil holders. These household goods often have
making porcelain remained unknown outside of
carvings of typical Chinese artistic scenes, such
China. The Sung Dynasty strongly encouraged
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porcelain-making, thus improving both quality and
原料之一。玉一向被視為能夠趨吉避凶，許多人佩
mass-production techniques.
戴玉珮，是相信玉能擋煞。玉被製成手鐲和耳環，
然而，中國藝術最為西方所知的是陶瓷，包括
還有梳子和髮飾。幾百年來，玉被視為凡間與仙
碗盤花瓶等，其製作比一般陶器需要更高溫度，通
界、人鬼之間的媒介，玉在墓地的用途更增添玉的
常在瓷碗盤花瓶上覆有一層釉料，自古老中國發
神祕感，死者往往有玉陪葬，增添玉在宗教上的意
展。這類餐具的英文稱作「china」，歐洲人趨之若
涵。另一方面，孔子的追隨者也會配戴玉珮彰顯自
鶩。直到18世紀以前，製造陶瓷的技術都沒有外流
己是有德之人。
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到中國以外地區，宋代陶瓷業蓬勃發展，品質與大 量生產的技術顯著提升。
Not surprising, the two most beloved pieces of
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art at Taiwan’s National Palace Museum are jade.
When powdered glass is fused to a ceramic or
The bok choy, or Chinese cabbage, starts white at
metallic surface at a high temperature, the result is
the stem and slowly turns a rich green by the top.
enamel. Enamel-making came to China from the
Insects sit on the leaves. Some people find them
Mediterranean countries. Chinese enamel, used
hard to see, as they are the same color as the plant.
to make dishes and bowls, results in colourful and
The subtle, elegant craftsmanship is stunning, rep-
highly decorative pieces.
resentative of the goals of Chinese art as a whole:
當粉狀的玻璃混合在高溫中與陶器或金屬表面
The depiction of the beauty of everyday nature.
上，結果就是琺瑯。琺瑯製作技術從地中海國家傳
The second famous jade piece has a totally different
播到中國，中國琺瑯多用來製作碗盤，創造出多彩
color: Shades of brown and white which the artist
與高度裝飾的物件。
turned into an appealing piece of meat. Taken 8
Jade, a greenish-white stone, is one of the most
museum unforgettable.
important art materials in China. Jade is considered
不意外的是，在台灣故宮博物院最受歡迎的兩
protective against evil and as bringing good fortune.
件古物就是玉器，其一是「翠玉白菜」，菜身從白
People wear jade jewelry, as many believe that it
色漸漸轉為菜 葉的翠綠 色，葉上還伏著幾隻昆
keeps death away. Jade is worn as bracelets and
蟲，雖然有些人覺得蟲兒並不太明顯，因為蟲子的
rings, and has been used as combs and hairpieces.
顏色和葉色融為一體。這項細緻優雅的工匠技術
In past centuries, jade came to be seen as a doorway
令人讚嘆，代表中國藝術的整體目標：描繪日常事
between the earth and heaven, between humans
物之美。另件著名的玉器「肉形石」則有完全不同
and spirits. Its use in funeral rites has given it a
的色澤，工匠將棕色與白色相間的瑪瑙刻成肥嫩
feeling of mystery. The dead have often been buried
欲滴的肉塊。這兩件玉器，讓故宮之旅深植人心。
with it. Adding to its religious meaning, followers
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of Confucius also wore jade to show that they are good, moral people. 玉是綠色白色的珍貴石頭，是中國重要的藝術
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together, these two jade pieces make a trip to this
全球中央 January
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A visit to a Chinese museum offers a visitor a wealth of information not only on history, but on the mindset of Chinese culture and people. How do the
本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw
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Chinese regard the earth? What is the relationship between the individual and nature? What is beauty? Throughout the centuries, artists have been able to express rich and diverse concepts with simple brushstrokes, arrangement of colors, and delicate shapes and sizes. 故宮提供遊客不僅僅是豐富的歷史資訊，還有 中國文化與人民生活態度的寫照：中國人如何看 待自然？人與自然的關係為何？什麼是美？數千年 來，藝術家透過簡單的筆觸、色彩安排、細膩的形 狀和大小尺寸來表達豐富和多元的意涵。
雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre
「翠玉白菜」是台灣故宮博物院最受歡迎的展品之一。 （中央社張銘坤）
雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions
True, False, or Not given: 1. The Southern Tang established an art school. 2. Porcelain was developed in China in the eighteenth century. 3. The Germans discovered the Chinese secret to porcelain-making. 4. Jade is never buried with the dead. 5. Two of the most famous pieces of Chinese art are made from jade.
Write no more than THREE words. Chinese emperors aided the 6. ________________of Chinese art. The Five Dynasties Period was a time when 7. ________________made important advancements. Chinese ceramics were famous throughout Europe, and porcelain was even called 8. ________________ by the English. One important plant used in Chinese art is 9. ________________, used both as a material and as the subject of watercolours. 10. ________________is the most important material for promoting luck. 11. ________________wore it to display their good ethics. Answers: 1.True 2.False 3. Not given 4.False 5.True 6.development and promotion 7. (Chinese) painting 8.china 9.bamboo 10.Jade 11.Confucians / Followers of Confucius
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