MANDAUE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC.

P. Burgos St. Alang -Alang Mandaue City 6014

School ID 404573

Second
Quarter

Arts
GRADE 8

Prepared by:
Ms. Rialyn R. Olaybar
Course Description

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 The learner demonstrates understanding of salient features of Asian music and the arts, through appreciation,
analysis,
and performance for selfdevelopment, the celebration of Filipino cultural identity and diversity, and the expansion of
one’s world vision.

Content Standard
*art elements and processes by synthesizing and applying prior knowledge and skills
* the salient features of the arts of East Asia by showing the relationship of the elements of art and processes among
culturally diverse communities in the region
* East Asian countries as having a rich artistic and cultural tradition from prehistoric to present times

Performance Standard
*create artworks showing the characteristic elements of the arts of East Asia
*exhibit completed artworks for appreciation and critiquing

Biblical Integration
The creativity of God is illustrated in the Bible. Though the bible is not an art book but it does show the creative
nature of God. ( Isaiah 64:8 , Ecclesiastes 3:11). He had made everything good and perfect from the beginning
(Gen.1.31) but when sin came into the world, the creative work of God was distorted by sin (Rom. 8:22-24). Though
we have sinned
before God, His creative work of salvation saved us from eternal punishment(Eph 2: 10, 2 Tim. 220-21, 1 Pet 3:18-
22).Those who have trusted their life in the Lord Jesus Christ, they will wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ and witness God’s creative work of the new Heavens and Earth (Isa.65.17; 2Pet. 3.10-13; Rev. 21.1-7)

UNIT 2

East Asian Arts

Fig. 1. A fascinating region of Asia, East Asia truly captures any person who venture on discovering its rich arts and culture.

East Asia is a region in Asia popular to foreign nationals because of their ancient culture as well as modern technological
advances. It houses some of the reputable titles such as the world’s most populous country, the K-Pop phenomenon, and
leader in robotics production. However, East Asia is more than those titles and is packed with a rich culture expressed
through their art.

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East Asia is defined as the eastern sub region of Asia. It is a region mainly comprised of China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.
Geographically and geopolitically, it also includes Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. However, Hong Kong and Macau fall
under the Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China while Taiwan is officially known as the Republic
of China which is considered a state in East Asia. Korea, on the other hand, is also divided into two distinct sovereign
states known as South Korea and North Korea. In terms of the East Asian Cultural Sphere, Vietnam is also included
because of the influence of Chinese culture on this country. However, in this lesson, we will only look into the arts of
China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.

QUARTER 1 | LESSON 1 | WEEK 1-2

Topic: Arts from East Asian Countries

Competencies
 analyzes elements and principles of art in the production of arts and crafts inspired by the cultures of East Asia
 identifies characteristics of arts and crafts in specific countries in East Asia: China (Chinese painting and
calligraphy), Japan (origami, woodblock printing, theater masks, face painting, and anime and manga) and
Korea (theater masks, drums and K-pop) know more about the wonderful world arts and culture of East Asia
packed with different art forms.

Learn about It!

Countries in East Asia display notable arts that are known worldwide and studied for
their historical, cultural and physical value. Let’s know some of their remarkable arts
and crafts.

China
China is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous in the world. Archaeological pieces of evidence of early
humans dated
millions of years ago are found in China. The fossil of the historically famous Peking Man, dated between 680,000 to
780,000 years ago, is the homo erectus known to be the first human to use fire. Evidence of the early dynastic rule
emerged on 2100 BCE. Ever since then, Chinese civilization has undergone several dynasties. Some co-existed with one
another as China started to develop their way of life. Not until the Qin Dynasty did the initiative for a unified China
materializes as the language and writing were made consistent as well the use of a systemized currency.

Chinese painting is highly regarded for its artistic tradition throughout history. There are paintings with colorful religious
connotations as well as paintings that use only black ink. During the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 907 AD), paintings in hand
scrolls were developed, and it gained popularity because of its relish and convenience in mobility. In the era of the Yuan
Dynasty (1279 AD - 1368 AD), they introduced landscape painting as a form of high art for
“like-minded” individuals.

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 Fig 2. A landscape painting made by Ch'ing-yen T'ang Tai dated between 1748 to 1749.
Source: Qingyan Tangdai, Ch'ing-yen T'ang Tai - Landscape - Walters 3519610A, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Chinese calligraphy is an important art form not just of the past but also of modern China. It is an art form of writing in an
aesthetically pleasing manner. Ancient calligraphy mainly uses paper, a brush, ink, and an inkstone, but nowadays,
brushes can be substituted with a pen.

Chinese calligraphy is an important tool for personal and political expression. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD),
calligraphy is already regarded as fine art. It served social purposes like helping to distinguish interest group from another
or permitting individuals to include themselves in social groups. Calligraphy became a social standards indicator and a
symbol of stature.

Fig 3. A calligrapher in Xian, China showcasing his works.

Souce: Alexey Komarov, Calligrapher in Xi'an, May, 2018, CC BY-SA 4.0

Modern Chinese calligraphy follows certain rules that are drafted by the famous modern Chinese calligrapher Tian
Yunzhang.

Among these rules are:

 The characters must be written correctly in traditional stroke order and must be accepted by legitimate
calligraphers.
 The characters must be legible.
 The characters must be concise and must be in black ink unless there is a reason to write in other ink.
 The characters must fit their context by being well educated and well read.
 The characters must be aesthetically pleasing.
Japan

Regarded as “The Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is popularly known as one of the most technologically advanced countries
and one of the leaders in economic power. An archipelago surrounded by the sea, this country used to be secluded from
its neighboring East Asian countries for many years. However, trade with China and Korea during the Yayoi period brought
influences that had brought tremendous effects on the country. Results that are still visible up to this time.

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The Japanese writing system called kanji is greatly influenced by the Chinese. It is composed of a thousand characters that
resemble the Chinese writing system. It is combined with the other most recent invented writing systems of Japan which
are hiragana and katakana.

Fig 4. A Japanese woman writing a letter in a scroll with a brush.

Source: Kusakabe Kimbei (1841 - 1934), Kusakabe Kimbei - Writing Letter, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Woodblock printing is a printing technique developed in East Asia to print texts, images, and patterns in textiles and later
on to paper. Ukiyo-e is the most popular type of Japanese woodblock art prints. It consists not only of woodblock prints
but also paintings from renowned Japanese artists of ancient Japan, one of them is Hokusai who created Thirty-six Views
of Mt. Fuji and The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.

Fig 5. The Ukiyo-e of Hokusai entitled The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.
Souce: After Katsushika Hokusai creator QS:P170,Q4233718,P1877,Q5586, Great Wave off Kanagawa2, marked as public domain, more
details on Wikimedia Commons

Origami is the art of paper folding often connected with Japanese culture. The etymology of the word stands for ori which
means to fold while kami means paper. The history of origami started when the paper was introduced to Japan from
China, and because it is expensive back then, the paper is used only for religious ceremonial purposes. Noshi is a
ceremonial origami fold that is attached to gifts to express good fortune. The most famous origami model that stands out
as an iconic Japanese symbol is the Japanese crane which is regarded as a mythical bird said to live for a thousand years. It
is referred to as the bird of happiness, and in East Asian culture, the crane symbolizes good fortune and longevity.

Fig 6. An illustration of a traditional noshi.

Source: Cdowebmaster, Noshi, CC BY-SA 3.0

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 Fig 7. An origami paper crane.
Source: Laitche, Cranes made by Origami paper, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Manga is referred to as Japanese comics or graphic novels. Said to have existed as early as the 12th century, its early form
is found in a series called Choju-giga or the Scrolls of Frolicking Animals, and it is believed that it represents the basis for
the right to left reading style.

Popular Manga artists include Osamu Tezuka who created Astro Boy and Machiko Hasegawa who created Sazae-san. Up
to this day, manga is a major publication industry in Japan. It may be published in the form of magazines where a lot of
manga series are included. This may include popular series as well as incoming works for newbie manga artist. These
magazines, also known as anthology magazines, are usually printed in the low-quality paper and are generally thick.
Tankoubon, on the other hand, are the collection of all the episodes of a manga series published in book-sized volumes. It
is usually published after the series is finished.

Anime came from the word animation and is commonly associated with the Japanese style of animation. Its long history
began in the early 20th century when the technology of animating still pictures arrived in Japan from the West. The
human figures in animes are highly distinguished with their stylized eyes and body proportion. Hair is also an element
used to indicate vibrancy as well as expressions through hair action. The facial expressions are used to indicate moods and
expressions such as sweat drops to indicate nervousness, blush on the cheeks to indicate embarrassment or happiness
due to romantic feelings, glowing eyes for intense stare or to indicate pleading, or visible nerve in the head to indicate
annoyance or anger.

Fig. 8 Facial expressions are important in Mangas and Animes

Source: pixabay.com (left); "CRINGE DRAWING" by Spring-Sam-Jo is licensed under CC BY 3.0 (right)

The Korean Peninsula

Korea is a region in East Asia divided by two sovereign states, the Hermit Kingdom of North Korea which is secluded and
with minimal acceptance to globalization; and the more popular South Korea. Early evidence of human existence in Korea
dated between 300,000 to 100,000 BC. However, early civilization began in the first half of the millennium through what is
known as the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Korea was divided by the three kingdoms of Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo which
unified the kingdoms towards the end of the first millennium in Korean history.

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 Fig 9. A painting of Korean envoys from the three different Kingdoms: Baekje, Goguryeo and Silla.

Hangul is the alphabet of Korea. Personally created and promulgated by King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty, he aimed to
promote literacy to his people. Before Hangul, classical Chinese was the writing used in Korea. Hunminjeong'eum, which
means The Proper Sounds for the Education of the People, is the written document published to acquaint the people on
the Korean alphabet. Later on, it was explained that the design of the consonants is based on articulatory phonetics while
the vowels are based on the principles of yin and yang and vowel harmony.

Fig 10. A page from the Hunminjeong'eum.

Source: Sejong the Great, Hunmin jeong-eum, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
South Korea is popular for its global sensation known as the Korean wave or Hallyu. This started as global popularity of
South Korean culture through their television dramas (K-Drama) and music (K-Pop). This phenomenon is carried through
the rise of the internet and social media. It made South Korea emerge as a major exporter of popular culture and tourism.

The exact starting point of the popularity of K-drama is difficult to pinpoint, but notable dramas such as Dae Jang Geum
(globally known as Jewel in the Palace) and Endless Love:
Winter Sonata are some of the K-Dramas that has garnered attention to the global masses.
K-Pop on the other hand, is a genre of popular music that describes the modern form of South Korean pop influenced by
different styles and genres around the world aside from its traditional music roots. Popular K-Pop artists include TVXQ,
2NE1, BTS and Psy who sang “Gangnam Style” which is considered the most watched Youtube video with more than 3.2
billion views as of 2019.

Fig 11. Psy’s performance in Sydney, Australia.

Source: BEva Rinaldi creator QS:P170,Q37885816, Psy performing Gangnam Style at the Future Music Festival 2013, CC BY-SA 2.0

North Korea has its distinct culture that was shaped through time and its people. Its visual art generally shows social
realism. Their paintings usually instill sentimental loyalty to the system with the Soviet Union and Japanese visual

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expression as their main influences. Paintings, murals, posters, and sculptures that depict their leaders Kim Il-sung, Kim
Jong-il and Kim Jong-un are highly regarded and considered sacred.

Fig 12. Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s massive sculptures in Mansudae Grand Monument. The photo was taken during the 69th founding
anniversary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2017. Source: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, Mansudae-Monument-Bow-2014, CC BY-SA
3.0

Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia known for its nomadic people because of its geography and climate.
Mongolia is called the “Land of the Eternal Blue Sky” because it experiences sunny days for more than half of the year.
However, it still suffers harsh climate conditions due to extreme heat in summer or freezing temperatures during winter.

Mongolia’s history is rooted in their nomadic lifestyle. Because of the land’s grassy steppe, Mongolians usually move from
places to places to pasture their livestock. They are also known for their horse culture, and their ancestors are regarded as
great warriors of the largest contiguous empire in land history. The Mongol Empire is the unification numerous nomadic
tribes of Mongolia under the leadership of Genghis Khan. This empire originated in the steppes of Central Asia and
expanded up to the Eastern and Central Europe, Japan, Siberia, eastward and southward of Indian subcontinent,
Indochina, the plateau of Iran, and westward to the Levant and the Carpathian Mountains.

In terms of unique heritage, one of the unique arts in Mongolia is called Khoomei (Tuvan Throat Singing). It is a special
sound produced when the tongue, teeth, larynx, and palate are in unison. It is a form of singing where all aspects of vocal
organs are used to replace musical instruments. It converges tunes of different octaves between lower tone and the
combination of high peaks. This is said to have its special part in the ancient pastoral animism of Mongolia’s culture where
they imitate the sound of nature. Throat singing in Mongolia is said to have three basic styles namely Khorekteer,
Khoomei, and Sygyt. Khorekteer is the chest voice while Khoomei is the low-mid to mid-range of a singer’s normal voice
which is the most popular style. Sygyt literally means whistling and is characterized by strong, flute-like harmonics.

Another key to traditional Mongolian music is the Long Song Form. This is characterized by long vibrating notes delivered
through a few words that may sometimes be limited to 10 in a four-minute singing. It usually expresses the feelings of the
singer to their horses, nature, family or nomadic life. Herders even sing this to their herds. Along with this form, an
instrument can sometimes be used as an accompaniment such as the Morin Khuur or the horse-head fiddle. It is a two-
stringed fiddle with an elaborately carved horse head in it. It said to emulate the sound of a neighing horse.

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 Fig 13. A Morin Khuur is a common accompaniment in Mongolian traditional music.
Source: Mizu basyo at Japanese Wikipedia, Morin Khuur, South Mongolian Style, CC BY-SA 3.0

Alash Ensemble is a famous throat singing band who performs traditional Tuvan music with a combination of non-
traditional influence. It is composed of Bady-Dorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, and Ayan Shirizhik. They incorporated
instruments such as murgu, limpi and shoor that are often used in music playing in Tuva in combination with western
instruments such as accordion and guitar. They are the modern forerunner and promoter of throat singing, and they have
toured around the world to present the heritage of Mongolia.

Lesson 2: Understanding the East Asian Arts

East Asian Art is a product of different cultures that have evolved throughout time. It is a constant self-discovery not just
to the countries belonging to East Asia but also for those outside their vicinity. Diving into their history and culture is an
effective method to understand more about how their art came to be.

Learn about It!

East Asian art is greatly influenced by its early civilization founded in China. East Asians are
ethnically and linguistically related to each other through their shared artistic tradition, as
well as written language and moral values. Through interaction in forms of trade, conquest,
and dominance, East Asian countries enriched their culture by being influenced by one another while also nurturing their
own.

Understanding their culture and identifying core traits that are evident between these countries is an effective tool to be
more immersed in their arts and crafts. Some of these traits can be found in objects that are notably defiant of East Asian
culture.

Chinese Writing System

In defining the characteristics of East Asia, one cannot set aside the importance of the role played by the Chinese writing
system that shaped not just its local arts and culture but also its neighboring countries. It is one of the oldest and yet
continuously used writing system in the world and a major unifying medium to propagate Chinese culture in East Asia.

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High regard of it even shows its relevance as fine art and in indicating one’s status in the society through calligraphy. The
Chinese Writing System gave birth to the Japanese and Hangul. However, this does not apply to Mongolia because they
adapted the Cyrillic Script. Though some words may have the same pronunciation and meanings, the written language is
different.

Fig 1. The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing of "Chinese character (Hànzì) cultural sphere" and "East Asia
Cultural sphere." Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country, is also included since its writing is influenced by the Chinese.

Source: YanTTO, 漢字文化圈／汉字文化圈 · 한자 문화권 · Vòng văn hóachữ Hán · 漢字文化圏, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fig 2. The Chinese writing for Aikido and Hapkido is the same with their meaning both applicable to Japan and Korea.

Aikido is a popular modern martial art in Japan. It is written in 3 Kanjis (as illustrated above) which came from Chinese
writing. Aikido is often translated as “the way of harmonious spirit” since it is a defensive type of martial arts. Hapkido, on
the other hand, is a Korean martial art adapted from Japan. However, unlike Aikido, Hapkido displays more of an offensive
type of martial arts. Aikido and Hapkido are pronounced differently, but they both adapt the same Chinese writing.

The Three Teachings: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism

Religious and ethnic ideas common in East Asian countries can be summarized in the teachings of Confucianism, Taoism,
and Buddhism. These are Chinese philosophy that gathered elements from the religions mentioned above.

Spelled as Taoism but pronounced as Daoism, Taoism is a Chinese religion that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao
or ‘the Way.’ It generally tends to wu wei (action without intention), simplicity, naturalness and the Three Treasures
namely compassion, frugality and humility. Its roots can be traced from the School of Naturalists also known as Yin and
Yang who expounds on the philosophical system about how to keep the human behavior in line with the alternating cycle
of nature.
Taijitu is one of the most popular symbols of Taoism because it represents yin and yang. Yin and Yang is the principle
where all things that exist have an inseparable and contradictory opposite such as man-woman, dark-light, and such. The
opposites yin and yang attract and complement each other. Their symbol illustrates that each side has the core of its
opposite as represented by the two dots and neither side is superior with each other. An increase in one corresponds to a

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decrease in the other indicating that must be a correct balance to achieve harmony. The taijitu can also be symbolized by
a tiger and a dragon following the tail of one another.

Fig 3. The taijitu is the symbol of yin and yang in Taoism.

Source: Klem, Yin and Yang, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Confucianism, on the other hand, is acquired from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It is later
developed from what is now known as the Hundred Schools of Thought. Confucianism is more characterized as a system
of ethical and social philosophy where the society composed of the parents, the school, society, and state are what
molding an individual’s identity and moral understanding. Confucianism is more of the social fabric and a way of life to the
Chinese. Nowadays, Confucianism is taught to schools through the writings of Confucius.

Fig 4. A portrait of Confucius.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, Konfuzius-1770, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

In Confucian philosophy, the mastery of Six Arts is practiced by scholars and a requirement to the students. These arts
include math, calligraphy, literature, equestrianism, archery, music, and arts.

Religion is one of the main factors for the production of art to resemble imagery of divine entities as well as the
construction of places for worship. These are often nurtured and beautify to propagate the faith as an act of worship as
well as pleas for wishes to be granted. In East Asia, the majority of the people are influenced by Mahayana Buddhism that
follows the Chinese Buddhist canon. These include various forms such as Chinese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism, and
Korean Buddhism. Other Southeast Asian countries are also influenced by East Asian Buddhism.

Compared to the earliest adherents of Buddha as a mortal who experienced enlightenment, Mahayana Buddhism
understood Buddha as one of many Buddhas and postulated the existence of other deities such as the bodhisattvas. In
medieval East Asia, Buddhism was referred to as “teaching of images” because of its images created in forms of paintings
and sculptures. These images are treated not just representations but also as living deities themselves.

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 Photos of different sculptures of Buddha in East Asia. (Left to Right) Fig 6. The Leshan Giant
Buddha in China.
Fig. 7. The Ushiki Daibutsu that depicts Amitabha Buddha in Japan.
Fig. 8. Buddha at the Seokguram Grotto in South Korea.
Fig. 9. Buddha Dipankara inside the Erdene Zuu Monastery in Mongolia. Sources:
(6) Ariel Steiner, Leshan Buddha Statue View, CC BY-SA 2.5
(7) Sandunruki (talk), Ushiku, CC BY 3.0
(8) Richardfabi, Seokguram Buddha, CC BY-SA 3.0
(9) Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, Budda Sandżaa w Świątyni Zachodniej w klasztorze Erdene Dzuu (01), CC BY-SA 4.0

Chopsticks

Eating is an everyday part of life and having utensils became an invention in history that served not only as an aid but also
an indication of elegance and hygiene. In the West where fork, knife, and spoon became the common eating utensils, the
orient invented its own in the form of two sticks globally known as chopsticks.

In the early civilizations of China, chopsticks became an eating utensil used during the Han Dynasty. It is said to be
originally used for cooking, but during the Ming Dynasty, it became normal for the Chinese people to use it in eating and
serving. It is also by then that it has acquired its present shape. Chopstick is known in China as kuaizi, hashi in Japan, and
sujeo in
Korea. It originated in China, but it has its own unique rendition in other East Asian countries.

Fig 10. Different chopsticks from different countries of East Asia.

Source: FiveRings at English Wikipedia, Many-chopsticks, CC BY-SA 3.0

Chinese chopsticks are characterized as long and thicker due to the convenience of the chopsticks as an extension in
reaching food on the table. A Chinese family usually shares a meal together with their viands served for everyone. In order
to reach them without standing, it requires them to have longer chopsticks. Modern day China’s chopstick is now made in
melamine plastic, but the most common type in regular households is still bamboo.

Fig 11. A young Chinese eating rice with chopsticks.

Japanese chopsticks vary depending on its purpose. The Japanese were able to develop different distinctive types of
chopsticks due to innovation and its functionality. They have longer chopsticks used for cooking, regular chopsticks for

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eating, and even chopsticks for kids that help them to learn how to use the utensils properly. Chopsticks made to fit lunch
boxes were also made for convenience and mobility. Another distinct character of Japanese chopsticks is the
incorporation of circumferential grooves at the eating end to prevent the food from slipping.

In the Taisho Period, chopsticks are combined with high-grade wood and materials such as ebony, maple, ironwood, and
even ivory. It is also during this time wherein Edo Kibashi made chopsticks in pentagonal or octagonal to make it easier to
hold and the tips rounded and a little pointed to prevent damage to the dish or bowl. Japanese chopsticks are also paired
with a chopstick rest to avoid the eating end to touch the surface of a table. Japanese chopsticks are adorned with
beautiful designs in the handle and even their rests, and nowadays, they are favorite gifts or souvenirs matched with their
elegant containers and packaging.

Fig 12. Chopsticks being sold as souvenirs in Nishiki Market, Japan.

Source: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, Chopsticks - Nishiki Market (42161779651), Cropped from the original, CC BY 2.0

Korea has also its own unique rendition on chopsticks. Sujeo means spoon and chopsticks because Korean eating utensil is
composed of these two important elements. Korean chopsticks are made of metal and are medium in length with a flat
rectangular shape. It is paired with a spoon that is also made of metal for the scooping of rice and soup. In the past, sujeo
can be made of gold, silver, and cloisonné, but nowadays, it is mostly made out of stainless steel.

Fig 13. A Korean table with the sujeo at the side.

Source: National Institute of Korean Language, Bapsang, Cropped from the original, CC BY 2.5
Mongolia also acquired the use of chopsticks based on artifacts acquired from personal belongings of early Mongolians.
Their nomadic life requires them to often bring their utensils including a pair of chopsticks, a knife, and a fire starter.
However, in modern day Mongolia, Mongolians are accustomed to eating with a spoon, fork, knife or with their bare
hands due to their diet which is largely composed of meat.

Fig. 14. Mongolian artefact reflecting the eating utensils of the Mongols.
Source: Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Knife with Sheath, Chopsticks and Belt Loop MET 36.25.988a-d
005july2014, CC0 1.0

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Lesson 3: Drawing Inspired by the Attire, Fabric, and Tapestries of East Asian People

An attire is an individual’s cover to the temple of the spirit which is the body. It is one’s expression of individual taste as
well as culture, perception of history as well as a mode for creativity. The East Asians long history of civilization give rise to
various unique and inspirational aspects in clothing material as well as technology. In this lesson, we will look into some of
them and discover their wonderful heritage of wearable art.

Learn about It!

East Asia is one of the pioneers of high-quality clothing materials still being used
today, and their fashion style has been a global influence
appreciated not just locally but also internationally.

Silk

Silk is a fabric made from the cocoon fibers of the mulberry silkworm. Silk cloth allows incoming light to be refracted in
different angles that enable it to produce different shades of colors. The history of silk is said to have started to China
where legend says that the Goddess of Silk, Lady Hsi Ling Shih, introduced silkworm rearing and invented the loom. Pieces
of evidence of objects made of silk dated from 3000 BC are found in the Zhejiang province.

Silk is a monopolized product of China in its early history for a thousand years. The production of it is a guarded secret
punishable by death. Its production is known as sericulture or the cultivation of silkworms. It used to be reserved only for
the use of the royalties. Only the emperor, his close relations and in high positions are only allowed to wear silk clothing. It
is said that the emperor wears a robe in white silk inside the palace and whenever he and his family go outside, they wear
yellow because it symbolizes earth.

Aside from clothing, silk is also used in writing, and it was regarded as a luxury paper. Gradually, silk became available for
everyone where various classes started to wear tunics made of silk. It became a material evident to everyday life because
of its multiple uses such as decorations, material for musical instruments, fishing lines, bowstrings, and many others. It
became a small industrial material but an asset itself that enables people to use it as payment for their taxes. Before long
it became a currency used in the trading of China to other countries and paving the way for the historical Silk Road.

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Hanfu

Hanfu refers to the historical dress sensibilities of the Chinese people. The term literally means Han Clothing wherein it
refers to the people during the Han Dynasty. However, in modern times, Hanfu is a general term that includes different
styles of clothing from different dynasties. A basic characteristic of a hanfu is a long flowing robe with long sleeves, and a
belt at the waist.

The hanfu consists of several pieces of clothing that constitute the overall look of a traditional Chinese dress:
● Yi - an open cross-collar garment worn by both sexes
● Pao - closed full-body garment only worn by men
● Ru - open cross-collar shirt
● Shan - open cross-collar shirt or jacket worn over the yi
● Qun or chang - skirts for men and women
● Ku - trousers or pants

The long history of China and its dynasties brought forth different designs for traditional Chinese dresses. Depending on
the technology available and the governance of the emperor, different styles of traditional clothing are associated with
hanfu.
Diyi

The attire worn by empress and crown princesses is called Diyi. It is only meant for ceremonial purposes and it is
embroidered with long tail pheasants and circular flowers. It is also worn with the phoenix crown.

Fig 1. A portrait of an empress of Song Dynasty wearing Diyi.

Source: AnonymousUnknown author, B Song Dynasty D Empress of GaoZong, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Tsa-chü-chʻui-shao-fu

Also known as the swallow-tailed hems and flying ribbons clothing, this is a historical female dress which was popular
during Tsʻao Wei, Chin and Northern, and Southern dynasties. It is also called Kui-i.

Fig 2. Female figures wearing the Tsa-chü-chʻui-shao-fu.

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 Source: 中國北魏時代藝術家, 56ba16ce08d05635b600c804, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia
Commons
Banbi

Banbi is an item in traditional Chinese attire wherein it is a waistcoat or outerwear that have half-length sleeves. Its collar
can be secured in the front by either a ribbon or metal button. It used to be a waistcoat assigned for palace maid, but it
also became a common outfit for commoners.

Daxiushan

Daxiushan is a traditional large sleeve gown for women. It is considered the most popular fashion style among the royals
during the Tang Dynasty. It composes of a distinct gown that covers the body from the chest to the ground with a knot
wrapped around the waist and an outer coat that is light which often matched with a scarf draped around the arms.
Shenyi

Shenyi is a historical attire for men that used to be made of ramie. Ramie cultivated in China and made into fabric. The
fabric is bleached and produced into a textile that is 45 to 60 centimeters wide. The shenyi is composed of an upper and a
lower garment is sewn together. The upper part is said to have four panels of ramie fabric to represent the four different
seasons while the lower portion is stitched with 12 panels of fabric that represents the 12 months of the year.

Panling Lanshan

Panling Lanshan is the traditional attire worn by scholars and students taking the imperial examination during the Ming
Dynasty. It is characterized with wide sleeves that have black edges and a round collar fastened with a button. It is worn
with a cross-collared undergarment typical of a hanfu attire.

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Qipao

Qipao (also known as Cheongsam) is the traditional female dress with distinctive Chinese features of Manchu origin. It
used to be the Mandarin gown or the national dress of the Republic of China and was popularized by Chinese socialites
during the 1920s and 30s in Shanghai.

Styles of Qipao:

● Beijing Style—retain original elements of Manchu robe.

● Shanghai Style—body-hugging style.

Changsan

Changsan is the traditional Chinese dress for men in high positions during the Qing Dynasty but were later on adapted by
the masses. This was introduced and required by the Manchus. The Manchu (also known as the rulers of the Qing
Dynasty) is the fourth largest ethnic group in China. Changsan is considered a formal dress for men.

Fig 9. Chinese men were wearing Changsan.

Kimono

Kimono is the traditional dress of the Japanese. It is highly influenced by Chinese garments because of its robe-like
features with a layer of coat. However, unlike Chinese dresses, the kimono is a T-shaped and straight-lined robe with its
hem falling until the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves. It is wrapped around the body with a strict
custom of putting the left side of the attire over the right because the opposite is only used in dressing the dead for burial.
Aside from the robe, a sash called obi is used to fasten the whole dress tied at the back. A kimono is worn with traditional
footwear (zouri or geta) and split-toe socks called tabi.

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Kimono have different styles. The kimono for men are different from women because they are far simpler and less
complicated. The color is less vibrant as well with the fabric usually in subdued dark colors like black, blue, green and
brown.

Kimono for women varies depending on the status of a woman. Kimonos for young women that are not yet married are
usually longer and tend to be more elaborate. They consist of a lot of pieces worn, matched, and secured in prescribed
ways thus assistance of licensed professional kimono dressers may be required. Wearing kimono involves knowledge of
the garment’s symbolism and social messages which reflects the woman’s age, marital status, and the level of formality of
the occasion. It is usually made of fine silk.

Furisode

Furisode is a kimono worn by young unmarried women. It is likened as their formal gowns during the coming-of-age
ceremonies. Coming of Age Day (also known as seijin shiki) is a holiday celebrated nationally in Japan wherein 20-year-old
Japanese boys and girls participate in ceremonies to celebrate their transition to being a teenager into adulthood.

Fig 10. 20-year-old Japanese women celebrating the Coming of Age Holiday.
Source: Nikita from Russian Federation, Four beauties, CC BY 2.0
Junihitoe

This is a highly complex kimono that was used to be worn only by the Japanese court ladies. It consists of a lot of layers
that can weight up to 20 kilograms. Nowadays, it can only be seen in museums, movies, costume demonstrations, tourist
attractions or certain festivals. It is the most expensive among Japanese clothing and only the Imperial Household uses
them at some important functions.

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Yukata

Yukata is a casual kimono usually worn during summer festivals. It is commonly made of cotton or synthetic fiber. A
standard yukata consists of a cotton undergarment called juban, yukata, obi, sandals, a fan against the heat of summer,
and a kinchaku or a small carry bag.
Hanbok

Hanbok is the traditional Korean dress. The traditional hanbok for women consists of jeogori which is the shirt or jacket
and the Chima dress which is a wrap-around skirt. The hanbok for men is composed of jeogori which is the jacket and baji
which is the baggy pants. There are also additional clothing such as the outer coat called Po, a vest called jokki or magoja
which is a jacket-type worn over jeogori for style and warmth.

Hwarot

Hwarot (Hwal-ot) is a traditional Korean dress for women commonly worn nowadays by Korean brides during wedding
ceremonies. The patterns evident to it are dragons, phoenix, and floral patterns. These contain meanings for good luck,
longevity, wealth and honor.
Deel

The Mongols call their traditional clothing Deel. This can be made of cotton, silk, wool or brocade. It looks like a large
overcoat with the sides pulled against the wearer’s body. The right flap closes the body with the left covering with one
clasp below the armpit, three at the shoulder and one or two at the neckline. A deel is worn with a belt made of leather
with ornate buckles.

Fig 15. Mongolian men and women wearing their traditional clothing Deel.
Source: (Left) Photo: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, Przed rozpoczęciem lokalnego festiwalu Naadam (06), CC BY-SA 4.0
(Right) Ds02006, Mongolwomen, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

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Lesson 4: Assembling East Asian Art Inspired Accessories

If the clothing is the covering of the flesh, accessorizing is the stylizing of the human figure. In this lesson, we will see how
East Asians adorn their bodies with accessories that are full of artistry and what are the functions of these.

Learn about It!

Accessorizing is a human’s instinct on the concept of beautification.
However, as time goes by, we can see how people revolutionize by
combining functionality and beautification. East Asian accessories can be
endless with their diverse culture and history, but we will look into some
of their accessories. Most of them are distinct headdresses from
different East Asian nation.

Phoenix crown

The phoenix crown (also known as Fengguan) is a traditional headgear worn by women of nobility during the Ming
Dynasty for ceremonial or official occasions. It used to be worn by the empress, and the earliest excavated phoenix crown
belongs to Empress Xiao of Sui Dynasty.

A phoenix crown is adorned with mini sculptures of phoenix, dragons, beaded pheasants, pearls and gemstones. Designs
and ornaments of phoenix crowns differ depending on the wearer like the empress, imperial concubines or princesses,
and the noble women. Phoenix crowns worn by the royals are adorned with a specific number of phoenixes or dragons
depending on their rank while the noble women are only adorned with pearls and gemstones and they cannot have
temple ornaments on their headdresses.

Fig 1. A Ming Dynasty phoenix crown.

Source: Michael Camera, Ming Dynasty phoenix crown, CC BY-SA 2.0
Chinese caps

The long history of China’s civilization birthed to various accessories, and one of them is fond of the Chinese to caps which
varies from dynasty to dynasty. Chinese caps for men is an indicator of social status and standing and through time it has
undergone various changes and modifications as well as social meaning.

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 Fig 2-4. A portrait of Tang Gao Zu, Emperor Huizong, and a scholar of the Ming Dynasty. Source:
(2) anonymous, Tang gao zu, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
(3) anonymous, Emperor Huizong, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
(4) 清叶衍兰辑摹，黄小泉绘。,侯方域 2, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

The code of wearing a cap in China is regarded as an important code. Before, Chinese can only wear caps after they reach
the age of 20 wherein they even have a special ceremony for it called “Guanli” indicating the coming of age for a Chinese
man.
Kinchaku
Kinchaku is a small drawstring bag used by the Japanese in a match with their yukatas. It is small in size suitable to put
their mobile phones and a wallet.

Fig 5. A Japanese girl wearing a yukata with her kinchaku at the side.
Kanzashi
Hair ornaments worn by women with their kimonos are called kanzashi. It could be comb-like or a clip adorned with
fabrics cut and arranged to resemble a flower with matching beads. For Japanese girls aspiring to be Geishas, their wigs
are usually decorated with more intricate and flamboyant kanzashi that usually match with the current season.

Fig 6. A maiko wearing a kanzashi adorned with willows to match the summer season.
Source: Chris Gladis, Fukuyu with willow kanzashi, CC BY 2.0
Ayam
Ayam is the traditional winter cap mostly worn by Korean women of the Joseon period. During the late Joseon period, an
Ayam became a common accessory for female commoners. In the western part of Korea, kisaeng or female Korean
entertainers commonly wear an Ayam. An Ayam consists of a mobu or a crown and deurim which is a big ribbon. It has a
tassel at the forehead, and it can be adorned with wonderful designs and jewels.

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Tteoljam
Tteoljam is a Korean hairpin matched on a hanbok. It is a hair ornament of various shapes with fluttering metals worn with
the eoyeo meori hairstyle. Eoyeo meori is a hairstyle for female members of the royal family who are living inside the
palace. It consists of a wig that shapes like a halo around the head, and a headrest called a jokduri, a maegae daenggi to
fasten the wig in its proper place, and the tteoljam.
Gat
Gat refers to traditional hats worn by Korean noblemen during the Joseon period. It is made of horsehair with bamboo as
its frame. It is usually in black and partly see through. It also has bead strings connected at the two sides, and it is called
gatkkeun.

Loovuz
Mongols have a lot of headgear, but one common hat among them is the Loovuz. This is a hat that offers good protection
for them against the wind and cold. It is usually made of wool or fox skin. It has flaps on the sides of the ear so that it can
be folded or lowered down to cover their ears against the cold.

Lesson 5: Painting the Architectural Wonders of East Asia

Architecture is a display of splendor, power, and artistry - splendor as one sees the features and designs of a structure;
power that enables it to flaunt the spending and constructing capability to build it; and artistry by the method and the
technology used to execute and finish the structure. In this lesson, we will look into some of the architectural wonders of
East Asia.

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 Learn about It!

East Asia is one of the most famous destinations for travelers because of its
Architectural structures that are truly magnificent and fascinating. They present an
aesthetic that is distinct to the Orient, thus, leaving their mark in global history.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is regarded as one of the greatest man-made sights in the world and is the longest wall ever built.
A display of China’s splendor and thousand years of rich history and civilization, the Great Wall runs more than 13 miles
across the northern border of China. It was built in different areas by different dynasties to protect China’s borders. The
Great Wall has more than 2,300 years of history, and aside from being a defense against invaders, this also served as a
protection for the Silk Road Trade of China.

The Great Wall is said to have been built not just with dedication and wisdom but also blood and tears because a lot of
Chinese workers were sacrificed to complete the building of this structure. It is said that soldiers, pheasants, and even
convicts were forced to build this structure for many years. The method used back then is still very basic which is by hand,
rope, cart, and livestock.

Fig. 1. The Great Wall of China.

Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Badaling China
Great-Wall-of-China-01, CC BY-SA 3.0
Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is one of the famous landmarks in Japan because it represents the ancient history during the feudal era of
the Japanese. Osaka Castle is built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Kansai Region after he unified Japan. The duration of
building the castle took only three years due to the number of workers involved which is around 100,000 workers.

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The main tower of the castle consists of five storeys where its exterior is characterized with gold leaf and ornaments. It
also features eight giant golden tigers called fusetora. In its roof, it is adorned with a golden shachi which is a mythical
creature with the head of a tiger and a body of a carp. This is believed to protect the castle against fire.

The castle grounds are a defensive fortress surrounded by high walls and water. Throughout history, Osaka Castle
undergone different damages from siege and even fire from being struck by lightning. However, the efforts of the
Japanese to continuously rebuild the castle preserved its importance to the country’s history. Now, it is one of the most
famous places to watch the Sakura flowers bloom during Spring.

Fig 2. The Osaka Castle during Spring time.

Source: Mc681, Osaka Castle Keep Tower in 201504 001, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gyeongbokgung

The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Located in the capital of Seoul,
this is the first and the largest royal Palace among the Five Grand Palaces of the said dynasty. This palace served as the
home of the Kings, his households, and the government of the Joseon Dynasty.

Gyeongbokgung consists of many buildings and structures. It has four gates to the North, East, West, and South. It also has
an outer court and an inner court where the outer court includes the throne hall and offices. The inner court is the area
for the sleeping quarters of the King, his Queen, and the Late Queen. There is also a palace reserved as quarters for the
crown princes and princesses. Gyeongbokgung also has pavilions where the banquet hall is located.

Gyeongbokgung was destroyed during the Japanese Occupation, but efforts from the Korean Government spearheaded
the rebuilding of this historical site. Now, this place is a popular tourist site that showcases Korean history as well as
culture. The National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea are also located in the vicinity of
Gyeongbokgung.

Fig 3. An overview of the Gyeongbokgung.

Source: B 螺钉, Gyeongbokgung map, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Yurt

Yurt is the traditional dwelling of the Mongols. It is a portable, round tent covered with felt or animal skins. The structure
comprises a latticework of wood or bamboo for walls, door frame, poles, and a crown as the top. The roof structure is
usually self-supporting, but large yurts have interior posts. A yurt is designed to be dismantled for easy relocation due to
the nomadic nature of the Mongols.

Fig 4. Yurts in the steppes of Mongolia.

Source: Japanese Wikipedia user Yosemite, Mongolia Ger, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia
Commons
Lesson 6: Reimagining East Asian Sculptures and Everyday Objects

East Asians are known to be creative and hard-working trendsetters in different art forms and even in the art of making 3-
D (3-Dimensional) objects, their craftsmanship is captivating. In this lesson, we will look into some objects that display the
rich 3-D arts of East Asia.

Learn about It!

Sculptures are considered one of the most popular 3D art forms. Methods of
sculpting vary depending on the material an artist is working with. It can either
be woodcarving, stone carving, molding, blacksmithing, casting and other
methods born in the creative minds of artists.

East Asian countries are rich in natural resources that vary based on the characteristics of their land. It is what makes them
highly diverse and prone to experimentation; that is why one can be hooked in learning more about their arts and culture.

Ceramics
China is one of the early producers of ceramics, and their reputation for producing high-quality ceramics is greatly
regarded globally. Even before the dynasties were established, the art of making ceramics has already started. Chinese
ceramics have a very long history that one can easily drown with its overflowing information and history. However,
important periods in the history of ceramic making in China can be observed in the Song and Ming
Dynasty.

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Song Dynasty ceramics are said to be the classical pinnacle of Chinese ceramics because of the simple shapes and single
color used while the Ming Dynasty is characterized as the period where blue and white ceramics adorned with different
styles like paintings became popular.

Fig 1. (Left) A celadon made during the Song Dynasty and a (Right) ceramic bottle made during the late Ming Dynasty Emperor Chongzen.
Source: (Left) Vassil, Grès chinois Guimet 231103, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
(Right) Hallwyl Museum / Jens Mohr / CC BY-SA, Kinesisk porslinsflaska från 1645-1655 - Hallwylska museet - 95598, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ceramics is not only popular in China. Other East Asian countries also adapt this craft and started making their own form
of ceramic. Koreans are famous for their inlaid celadon wherein celadon means greenware. Japan is famous for its
kintsugi, a kind of pottery that is revered for its beauty as well as deep meaning. Kintsugi is a ceramic that was used to be
broken but is repaired by filling the cracks with lacquered resin and powdered gold.

Fig 2. (Left) An inlaid celadon of Korea made during the Goryeo Dynasty. (Right) A kintsugi made from a broken ceramic.
Source: (Left) The original uploader was Korea history at English Wikipedia., Goryeo Celadon, CC BY-SA 3.0
(Right) Haragayato, Kintugi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Paper

Paper is said to be invented by the Chinese court official named Ts’ai Lun of the Han Dynasty somewhere around 105 AD.
Paper is one of the greatest human inventions of all time because it revolutionizes the reading culture as well as the
literacy of the people. The convenience of paper as a lightweight material and easy to take away paved the way for easy
documentation and transportation of it. Korea was able to acquire the art of papermaking in the 6th century AD and later
brought it to Japan through a Korean monk named Don-cho. He introduced it to the Imperial Palace, sixty years after
Buddhism was introduced to the country.

Aside from Origami, one of the famous East Asian paper arts are paper lanterns. The exact history of how the paper
lanterns came to be as a symbol of East Asian culture is not comprehensively documented as various legends cover the
specific events. However, it is said that paper lanterns were first propagated in China to adorn Buddhist temples. More
than its aesthetic purpose, the paper lanterns contain symbolism for the hopes and dreams of the Chinese Buddhists as
being signified by the light in a paper lantern. They also used this as a medium for advertisement and prayer as they paint
stylized characters in it.

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Over a thousand years of different conquest and globalization, the art of paper lanterns left an impact on the culture, not
just of China, but also to other East Asian countries and even to
Southeast Asia. It became a common decoration for festivals and a signifier of
Oriental-themed designs. However, paper lanterns still stick true to their original purpose, and that is as a form of lighted
signage. They are one of the most beautiful and graceful objects found in everyday life, particularly in East Asian nations
and Chinatowns all over the world.

Fig 3. Paper lanterns hung in (Left to Right) China, Japan, and Korea. Sources:
Terracotta Warriors of China

One of China’s famous and oldest works of arts are the Terracotta Warriors found in the Lintong District, province of
Shaanxi. These are thousands of excavated Terracotta sculptures that resemble the whole army of the first emperor of
China, Qin Shi Huang.

The Terracotta sculptures were discovered in 1974 when farmers in Lintong accidentally found some of the sculptures
while digging a well. The sculptures not only composed of soldiers but also of chariots and horses. Further excavations led
them to also discover non-military figures like officials, strongmen, acrobats, and musicians. Near the site where these
sculptures are buried is the tomb of Emperor Qin.

The sculptures are life-size, and they resemble in a detailed manner the old army of China. With sharp details on the
clothing up to the faces and the hair of a terracotta figure, one can pinpoint the position and rank it represents to the
army. The figures used to be painted with bright pigments, but exposure to dry air quickly damages the terracotta figures.

Fig 4. A Terracotta warrior displayed in a museum.

Source: shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates, I was impressed with the life-like expression (35300697030), CC
BY 2.0

Fig 5. Replicas of terracotta warriors depicting their original colors if the pigments were not faded.
Source: Charlie, Recreated colored terracotta warriors, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Noh Masks

Noh is a classical musical drama of Japan that existed ever since the 14th century. It is the oldest major theatre art still
performed today, and it is already declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. During the Tokugawa Period, the
shoguns made Noh as its ceremonial art. Their plots are usually about literature, history, legends, and nowadays, even
contemporary events.

One of the important aspects of Noh is the masks used by the actors. , and some of them wear masks to represent the
age, gender, social ranking, and whether the character is an animal, divine, or a demon. Noh masks are stylized to
emphasize facial expressions. The masks are carved from Japanese cypress, and its three-dimensional properties allow a
variety of emotions with changes in head orientation. The lead characters are the ones only allowed to wear the Noh
masks.

Fig 6. A female mask used in Noh that shows how different angles express different moods.
Source: Wmpearl, Three pictures of the same noh 'hawk mask' showing how the expression changes with a tilting of the head, marked as public
domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Janggu

The Janggu is the most representative drum of Korean traditional music. It is shaped like an hourglass with the two ends
producing different pitch and timbre. When played together, it is said that it represents the harmony of a man and
woman. It is played using two sticks, and the drummer can play it on the floor or while walking by hanging it in their neck.

Fig 7. A jjangu player performing in a crowd.

Source: by m-louis, Korean.Music-Janggu-01, CC BY-SA 2.0
Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue is the world’s largest equestrian statue. It is forty meters high located 54 kilometers from
Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. It is made of 250 tons of stainless steel, and it features the national hero of
Mongolia, Genghis Khan, riding his horse. The statue is said to be facing in the east about the direction of the place where

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he was born. The visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the vicinity through the head of the horse by going through a
pathway connected from the chest and neck.

Fig 8. The Genghis Khan Equestrian Sculpture in Mongolia.

Source: Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom, Chinggis Khan (5001465717), CC BY-SA 2.0

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