An Expression Of Aspiration For Life Essence

The study on Nanyang stone reliefs of Han Dynasty with mythological subjects is still in an initial stage and systematic research has barely been carried out. The significance of this paper lies in its case study on the Chinese traditional art(stone relief) by using modern art theories. This paper aims at exploring how stone reliefs of Han Dynasty present the state of people's life. This paper falls into three parts. Part one is an elaboration upon the life spirit conveyed by Nanyang stone carvings of Han Dynasty from the perspective of the relation between mythology and life; part two is an elucidation of the art spirit they illustrate in terms of the relation between mythology and art; part three is an explication of the mental structure of people at that time and the characteristics of symbolic symbols presented by the carvings in Nanyang stone reliefs from the angle of the relation between mythology and symbol.If mythology can be regarded as the thread which runs through the whole paper, then life, art and symbol are the key concepts which the paper highlights. These three key concepts unfold centering on mythology. The life spirit of people in Han Dynasty can be equated with art spirit in essence, and the mythologies in stone reliefs of Han Dynasty present the life spirit by the medium of art. This kind of life spirit can be virtually reckoned as symbolic symbols when it is presented in stone reliefs by craftsmen's artistic creation.Heavily influenced by structuralism and traditional universe outlook on the harmony between heaven and human beings, the author explores stone reliefs by locating them in a system, not only in the tomb system but also in the system of culture and the universe. Mute as it is, the significant stone relief is a silent rendition of a tradition, both ancient and modern, the tradition of expressing ideas by painting. Although having been capsulated in tombs for hundreds of years, the mythological figures carved in Nanyang stone reliefs of Han Dynasty didn't perish, instead they were well preserved by generations of people. Today, the re-examination of the once glorious lives of the mythological figures in stone reliefs may not change their loneliness for hundreds of years, but it can somewhat alter our attitude towards reality.