English Adaptation by: T. Martinez

Ching Feng Yang

( I still smell)

Kuei Fen Fang

( sweet roses)

Chung Chui Yueh sig

( Carried by the gentle)

Cheng Chi Liang

( Winds that blow),

Shui Chia Kao Chang Feng Kui Hsiang

( I    see    the    full    moon   up there)

Chu         Hsi Hsiang  Pu hu liang

(While   my poor    heart is )

Tang Tang Tsui Cho Chang

( broken    so)

Chuan Chun Mo

( I remember )

Tan yeh far Hsiang

( those happy years)

Szu lang pu Chien

(Now my red  gown is )

Nu sin Shang

( wet with tears)

Lei Sa hung Chang

( My falling tears)!

CLAPPER – is used in Confucian rituals, and is made of five pieces of  bamboo.

Chinese Bamboo Clapper

Confucian Ritual

GONG - is an instrument that is use to announce the arrival of wandering fortune tellers. It is also known as the blindman’s gong and widely used in the province of Shantung.

Chinese Gong

- is usually  a drum which makes a sound when the membrane is hit. You may use stick or hand in striking the membrane this will produce the sound.

PAN- KU – is also called danpi.

Panku or Danpi

Chan- ku- is kind of Chinese drum usually used during procession.

Chan- Ku

SHENG - is a mouth organ which uses seventeen bamboo pipes.

One of the oldest Chinese instruments

TITZU - is a transverse bamboo flute consisting of a cylindrical tube with six holes.

- played transversely. 6 fingerholes and extra hole covered with membrane which vibrates to give characteristic reedy tone.

Flute, Tye (TI-TZU) or Dizi, bamboo / bone, China

CHORDOPHONE – is any musical instrument which makes sound by way of a vibrating string or strings stretched between two points.

P’ipa – is classified as chordophone instrument.

San Hsien or sanxian -

Listen to the sound of  San hsien instrument. Click here.

San Hsien or Sanxian, chordophone instrument

1. Ancient Period – started from Neolithic up to 246 B.C.

2. Middle Ancient Period it started from 246 B.C up to A.D 907

3. Late Historical Peiod – it started from A.D 907 up to 1911

• The Ancient Period

- this was started the reconstruction of the actual sounds of ancient music.

There are 8 classification of Chinese. It was classified based on the materials which it were made. These are:

1. Metal

Bianzhong, -  65 to 100 bronze bells hung on a rack, struck using poles

2. Silk

3. Bamboo,

4. Wood

5. Stone, 

6. Clay

7. Gourd

Sheng is one of the  oldest Chinese instruments whose manufacture and use were documented in ancient Chinese history.

Listen to the sound of  Sheng instrument. Click here.

8. Leather

• MIDDLE ANCIENT PERIOD- it started in Han Dynasty from 206 to 202 A.D.

- the establishment of ministry of music indicated government emphasis on music.

- standard if Pitch was enforced.

Pitch – refers to highness and lowness of a sound.

There are Three division of music was formed.

1. Ritual Music – ( ya-yueh)

2. Secular Music ( su-yueh)

3. Regional or Folk song

Minstrels -was a medieval Europen band who perform songs,whose lyrics told about distant places or about real event/life or historical events.

- This was the time the emphasis of singing minstrels and acrobatic performances with accompaniments.

• LATE HISTORICAL PERIODS

There are three major developments took place during this period.

1. The revival of Confucian musicology after the T’ang Dynasty.

2. The rise of musical dramas

3. The popularization of regional dramas.

Sung Dynasty begins the musical dramas. Chinese dramas includes;

1. Musical Arias

2. Spoken dialogue

3. Dance and mime

4. Instrumental accompaniments

During the Ching dynasty 91644- 1911) , ancient court music was revived during the management of emperor K’ang- Hsi (1622- 1722)

EMPEROR K’ANG HSI

PEKING OPERA – is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics.

A female Beijing opera performer with traditional costume and makeup

A male Beijing opera performer

TRADITIONAL MUSIC

- The description of major traditional musical genres are still being performed today.

There are two features in modern arrangement of traditional Chinese music. These are:

1. the incoporation of Western instrument into traditional ensembles

2. employment of western compositional techniques such as:

• counterpoint
• bass lines
• triadic arpeggios
• sequential motif

Happy Reading!

Lesson 3:

Asian Ceramics and Pottery

- Ceramic is the art of making useful and beautiful objects by shaping and heating certain minerals.

- Potter’s Clay comes from the Greek word “keramos”

- Porcelain is the finest type of pottery.

- Silicates are use to make ceramics that comes from a large class of minerals.

The silicate minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming minerals.

-Ceramic making and pottery making are considered as man’s oldest occupation.

When nomadic man settled down and discovered fire, the firing of clay pots was not far behind. Pinch pots, made from balls of clay into which fingers or thumbs are inserted to make the opening, may have been the first pottery.

Nomadic people – are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location.

LESSON 4:

RELATIONSHIP OF ASIAN WORKS OF ARTS:

Islamic art is a term refers to an art style developed by Arabs.

Mosques rank as the most famous example of Islamic art

Sanskrit is the classical language  in India.

HINDUISM is the traditional religion in India.

Brahman is the supreme and absolute power.

- is also called as the creator

SHIVA is the destroyer

Islam is the faith taughtby Mohammed.

Christianity is the most widespread religion in the world.

Muras or gestures language of Indian dances are prominet in the most dance drama.

Khon is the oldest Thai native forms of theater.

-a performance of which acting and dancing are combined.

Lesson 2:

Expressions in Asian Arts

- Mohenjo – Daro means the Place of the Dead and Harrapa were the great cities where

early peole demonstrated great skills in urban planning.

- there are number of Hindu Festivals these are:

Autumn Diwali, festival of lights

Spring – Festival of Holi, festival of colors

CHINA

- Chinese call their country ” Chung Kuo“, which means middle country

- The name China was given by the people of other nation.

- Ch’in, the name of the early Chinese dynasty.

- Shim Huangdi

-the first emperor of  Cin Dynasty who started the first military and political power.

- he also the first emperor who began to built the ” Great Wall of China”

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built mainly to protect the Chinese Empire from the Mongolians and other invaders.

The majestic Great Wall was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat and tears. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of two to three million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.

The Great Wall is not just a wall, but a symbol of the bravery and wisdom of the Chinese people

JAPAN

- has rich literary heritage

- The Tale of Genji, a long novel written during early 1000’s is generally considered the greatest work of Japanese fiction. If you want to read the synopsis of this novel, click here.

- Bronze was the first metal that enters in Japan.

INDONESIA

- Borobudor in Java, famous Buddhist temple

Borobudur Temple is considered as on of the seven wonders of the world.

Prambanan is a famous Hindu Temple

THAILAND

- The arts in Thailand are greatly influence by Buddhism.

- Thai literature is divided into two groups namely: wannakhadi and wannakam.

Wannakhadi consists of classical dramas and epic poems originally written and performed for rich people or royalty.

Wannakam consists of novels, poems and short stories about modern Thailand.

PHILIPPINES:

- Philippines art is a combination of the East ( China, Japan, Malaysia/ Asian countries) and West (European countries).

- didnot embrace Hinduism and Buddhism.

most Filipinos become Christians.

INFOGRAPHICS:

- are found in Southeast Asian temples. These are:

Serpent Naga – symbolizes the life giving power of water

Garuda – represent the divine eagle

- it is also the symbol of the sky

- vehicle of Vishnu, is one of the Hindu god that is believed to be the “preserver”

Elephant – observed guarding of hindu temples

Monkey god – is the companion of Vishnu.

Sanskrit - one of the official languages in India.

You might want to learn Sanskrit. This is an example for you to try on.

Lesson 1

Rig-veda an earliest collection of hymns.

Hymn -  is a song of praise for god or nation.

Indian famous epics are:

1. Ramayana

-  it depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king.

- it is the story of Prince Rama and Princess Sita

2. Mahabharata

Another type 0f literature:

Upanishads - is a collection of philosophical dialogues. To know some examples, click here.

Panchantantra – is a collection of fables.

Here is an example of a modern Indian fable.

If we have famous festival here in the Philippines such as Sinulog, India has its own distinctive festivals.

Most of the festival of Hindus are more on cultural and religious. One of the festivals in India which considered as famous and important festival  is Diwali (pronounced ‘Divali’)  or Festival of Lights. It is called Festival of lights for the Indians uses lamps or candles to welcome their Hindu god “Rama”. They placed this candles in front of they doorways, windows in their homes.

DIWALI FESTIVAL will be this coming October 17,2009

It is through the light that we can see and experience the beauty of this world. It is believed that world recognize the importance of light as a gift of God.

In our country we have somewhat similarities in this practice, we tend to put candles at the doorways at night during “All Souls Day”. This is to welcome the souls of our love ones.

FESTIVAL OF HOLI

-it is the festival of colors. It is another important festival in India. Indians uses colored powder called Gulal. In this festival most of the people were merry-making. They were happy for bright colors represents energy,happiness and full of life.

This is open to all ages. This festival shows the spirit of camaraderie. After this splashing of colors to the other people, a sumptuous food will be served.