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The Upright Brush : Yan Zhenqing's Calligraphy and Song Literati Politics / Amy McNair.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press, [1998]Copyright date: ©1998Description: 1 online resource (200 p.)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9780824865146
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 745.6/19951/092 21
LOC classification:
  • NK3634.Y45 M39 1998eb
Other classification:
  • online - DeGruyter
Online resources:
Contents:
Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. The Politics of Calligraphy -- 2. Yan Zhenqing’s Illustrious Background and Early Career -- 3. “The Nest Tipped and the Eggs Overturned”: The An 3. Lushan Rebellion -- 4. Partisan Politics at the Postrebellion Court -- 5. From Daoist Inscriptions to Daoist Immortal -- 6. Buddhist Companions and Commemoration -- 7. The Late Style of Yan Zhenqing -- 8. Confucian Martyrdom -- Notes -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author
Summary: In the history of Chinese calligraphy, few are more famous than the eighth-century statesman Yan Zhenqing (709-785). His style is still taught today as a standard, and Chinese bookstores the world over stock inexpensive reproductions of his works for sale as copybooks. Yet Yan's style cannot be called conventionally attractive. "Correct," "severe," "serious," "forceful" are terms habitually applied to describe his writing--rarely has his calligraphy been called graceful or beautiful. How, then, did Yan earn such an eminent place in the history of art? In The Upright Brush, Amy McNair argues for the political rather than purely aesthetic basis for Yan Zhenqing's artistic reputation. She shows how his prominent position was made for him in the eleventh century by a handful of influential men who sought to advance their own position by associating themselves with Yan's reputation for uprightness. Equating style with personality, they adopted Yan's calligraphic style as a way to clothe themselves in his persona. Sophisticated, informed, and intelligent, The Upright Brush illuminates an episode (one of many) in the history of Chinese culture where the creative reinterpretation of the past was used for contemporary political means. It will be eagerly welcomed by all scholars of Chinese culture and history, as well as by those interested in the making and reading of art.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number URL Status Notes Barcode
eBook eBook Biblioteca "Angelicum" Pont. Univ. S.Tommaso d'Aquino Nuvola online online - DeGruyter (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Online access Not for loan (Accesso limitato) Accesso per gli utenti autorizzati / Access for authorized users (dgr)9780824865146

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. The Politics of Calligraphy -- 2. Yan Zhenqing’s Illustrious Background and Early Career -- 3. “The Nest Tipped and the Eggs Overturned”: The An 3. Lushan Rebellion -- 4. Partisan Politics at the Postrebellion Court -- 5. From Daoist Inscriptions to Daoist Immortal -- 6. Buddhist Companions and Commemoration -- 7. The Late Style of Yan Zhenqing -- 8. Confucian Martyrdom -- Notes -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author

restricted access online access with authorization star

http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_16ec

In the history of Chinese calligraphy, few are more famous than the eighth-century statesman Yan Zhenqing (709-785). His style is still taught today as a standard, and Chinese bookstores the world over stock inexpensive reproductions of his works for sale as copybooks. Yet Yan's style cannot be called conventionally attractive. "Correct," "severe," "serious," "forceful" are terms habitually applied to describe his writing--rarely has his calligraphy been called graceful or beautiful. How, then, did Yan earn such an eminent place in the history of art? In The Upright Brush, Amy McNair argues for the political rather than purely aesthetic basis for Yan Zhenqing's artistic reputation. She shows how his prominent position was made for him in the eleventh century by a handful of influential men who sought to advance their own position by associating themselves with Yan's reputation for uprightness. Equating style with personality, they adopted Yan's calligraphic style as a way to clothe themselves in his persona. Sophisticated, informed, and intelligent, The Upright Brush illuminates an episode (one of many) in the history of Chinese culture where the creative reinterpretation of the past was used for contemporary political means. It will be eagerly welcomed by all scholars of Chinese culture and history, as well as by those interested in the making and reading of art.

Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.

In English.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 02. Mrz 2022)