Chinese Vocab

Question 1

Bi

Answer 1

a jade disk with a hole in the center.

Question 2

Colophon

Answer 2

the inscriptions which follow the painting in an east asian handscroll.

Question 3

Confucianism

Answer 3

a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Question 4

Daoism

Answer 4

a philosophical and religious tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao, which means “way”, “path” or “principle”, and can also be found in Chinese philosophies and religions other than Daoism.

Question 5

Literati

Answer 5

the english word used for the Chinese “wenren” or the Japanese “bunjin”, referring to the well-educated artists who enjoyed literature, calligraphy, and painting as a pastime.

Question 6

Pagoda

Answer 6

reliquary tower built with successively smaller, repeated stories; each story with an elaborated projecting roof

Question 7

Porcelain

Answer 7

high-fired, vitrified white ceramic ware that employs two specific clays (kaolin and petuntse)

Question 8

Inlay

Answer 8

to set pieces of material into a surface to form a design

Question 9

Glaze

Answer 9

outermost layer of vitreous liquid

Question 10

Hanging scroll

Answer 10

vertical painting or text mounted within sections of silk. At the top is a semicircular rod, and at the bottom is a round dowel. They are usually kept rolled and tied except for special occasions.

Question 11

Handscroll

Answer 11

long, narrow, horizontal painting or text that has a size for individual use. It is stored wrapped tightly around a wooden pin and is unrolled for viewing or reading.

Question 12

Album leaf

Answer 12

paintings or prints in book form in an album.

Question 13

Seal script

Answer 13

rchaic characters used on personal emblems