Northern Shaanxi Han Stone Decorative Arts Study

Han Dynasty stone relief is a formative art that integrates painting and sculpture into a whole part. As a special artistic form serving for funerary customs in ancient China, the stone relief mostly appeared as abaciscus with strong features of nation and age in tombs and their attached above-ground templs. It was decorative sculpture as well as component of the funeral buildings. Therefore, not only its forming technique and overall artistic form, decorativeness is also its chracteristics.For several years, people has acheieved great success in study on Han Dynasty stone relief in China. Compared with those made in Shandong and Henan provinces, the study in north Shaanxin seemd fairly weak. Current researh findings are mostly archeological, hardly concern the artistic value and aesthetic qualities, lacking systematicness and allsideness even more. This dissertation tries to make use of the interdisciplinary study approach that combines the art theory, ethnology, philological studies of ancient documents and archaeology of fine arts. By integrated survey and study on visual culture such as modeling and picture composition of stone relief in north Shaanxi, this dissertation panoramically shows its decorative styles and artistic values. With both excellent texts and pictures, this dissertation gives effctive argument to support the following conclusions on stone relief: symmetry and regularity were required for the harmony; frame modeling and edging collocation were emphsized for visual shock; a full and rich picture composed of multiple skin texture was paid attention to for expressive force; realistic painting and exaggeration were applied simultaneously for its affective tone.In additon, this dissertation also tries to dig up culture connotation of stone relief in north Shaanxin, grasp the relations between the art of stone relief and people's notion, at the same time differentiate this specific art style of Han dynasty from the Han culture. It explores the artistic characteristics stone relief in north Shaanxi which includes the pursuing for traditional humanistic spirit and ideal in content, innovation not limited to one type in technique of expression, seeking for simplicity and rusticity in the conciseness of esthetic and implication. So that clarifies the positive inspiration the stone relief offers for the afterwards paintings and sculptures in China and its value in inheriting and spreading the Chniese ancient civilization and local arts development.