Guided Tour of Design by the Book: Chinese Ritual Objects and the Sanli tu

Description

Design by the Book: Chinese Ritual Objects and the Sanli tu (March 24 - July 30, 2017) explores the medieval Chinese book Xinding Sanli tu (Newly Determined Illustrations to the Ritual Classics) and its impact on Chinese material culture. The long overlooked book served as a guide both to the material culture of the Classics and to the design of Confucian ritual paraphernalia in post-classical, imperial China. In Chinese, the concept of ritual (li) is more broadly defined than in English, encompassing not only rites but also etiquette and proper conduct according to rank and station. Until the early twentieth century, most Chinese regarded Confucian rules of behavior and ritual as the moral norm. The government, meanwhile, saw them as an indispensable basis for the proper organization of society and the state, ensuring divine approbation, order, and the fundamental values of civilization.

Our Gallery educators are BGC Master’s students who have undergone intensive training to work with K-12 students and adapt tour content to meet classroom educators’ curricular goals and standards.