Spirit of Han: Ceramics for the After-Life

by Aileen Lau (Editor), Southeast Asian Ceramic Society Staf

Regarded along with the Tang dynasty as a watershed of cultural activity, value systems and socio-political structures, the Han dynasty continues to fascinate scholars, anthropologists, historians, ceramicists and art enthusiasts all over the world. Han ceramics has been constantly studied, discussed and updated, with new archaeological finds in China. During the Han dynasty, ceramics were used for practical as well as ritual purposes. This catalog focuses on the ceramics made as tomb furnishings, or mingqi, and illustreats over 200 rare Han dynasty tomb artifacts, classifying, dating and fully describing each, thus, shedding light on an interesting aspect of Han culture and artistry. Also includes essays on related subjects by leading ceramicists, scholars and historians. Table of The Dynasty Rulers of the Imperial Han Dynasty Providing for Life in the Other World Han Dynasty China Han Ceramics in Indonesia Mingqi and Other Tomb Furnishings as a Reflection of Han Society and Culture The Interchange of Motifs and the Development of Realism in the Decorative Arts of the Han Tall Pottery Towers and Their Archaeological Contexts The Splendour of Han Pottery The Catalogue Glossary

190 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, published in 1991, gives an interesting insight into perceptions on collecting Han dynasty funerary ceramics. There are some very interesting articles about mingqi (明器) or ‘spirit objects’ which provide rich information for those unfamiliar with the area of study. It is somewhat outdated and it should be approached critically when engaged from a scholarly perspective, there are more recent writings on the Han dynasty and its material culture, but there are some interesting examples of burial ceramics pictured in the publication, unfortunately without any archaeological provenance, but unique examples from private collections that may not otherwise have been seen by the public. The examples are useful for an expansion on typologies available in the ‘usual suspect’ texts that briefly cover the Han dynasty and its material culture.