TEACH CHINA
Resources for students and educators
TEACH CHINA
Resources for students and educators
The Buddha—that is, the “Enlightened One”—lived nearly 2500 years ago in northern India. His followers have always seen his life as a shining example to all, but what “really happened” is now impossible to know for certain. Even the earliest stories of his life include miraculous events that may seem hard to take literally.
The earliest surviving representations of the Buddha date from hundreds of years after his death, so they are not portraits in the usual sense. Buddha images vary greatly from place to place and period to period, but they almost always show conventional physical features.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the most conspicuous features of the religious landscape were the open rivalries as well as the relatively peaceful coexistence among different religions. Thus, the boundaries between different religions were fluid in two senses.
Buddhism has deeply influenced the character and evolution of Asian civilization over the past 2,500 years. It is based on the teachings of a historical figure, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around the fifth century BCE.
China’s emperors believed that Heaven bestowed upon them a divine mandate to rule — thus their title “Son of Heaven.” This mandate was hereditary but could be withdrawn at any time and bestowed upon another family if Heaven deemed it appropriate.
Buddhism was essentially a foreign religion in a culture with many well-established philosophical and religious traditions, notably Taoism and Confucianism. These three belief systems coexisted to varying degrees during both the Tang and Song dynasties.
This study packet introduces Taoism, and its expression in Chinese art. What exactly is Taoism? (pronounced “dow-ism”). Note: After you click on the “Read” link, scroll down to find the Taoism packet.
Explore ancient Buddhist cave shrines in China and discover why the sites were created.
Beginning in the Eastern Zhou dynasty was the development of the so-called ‘hundred schools’ of philosophy, a creative flowering of genius that laid the foundations for all major schools of Chinese thought with the exception of Buddhism.
Overview of Confucian beliefs and their transformation during the Tang and Song Dynasties.
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Major support for the Asian Art Museum’s school programs and resources is provided by the Dhanam Foundation, United Airlines, The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and Daphne and Stuart Wells. Additional support is provided by Ms. Jane B. Dalisay and Mr. John W. Kirkman and an anonymous donor. Teacher professional development programs are supported by Wells Fargo.
General support for education is provided by the Dhanam Foundation, the Koret Foundation, the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation, The Charles D. and Frances K. Field Fund, Dodge & Cox, and The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking Foundation. Support is also provided by an endowment established by The Hearst Foundations.
Teach China was created in collaboration with the following arts organizations:
