Genesis of the Celestial Empire, Dragons, Phoenixes and Other Chimeras / The beginning of the world, Dragons, Phoenixes and Other Chimeras.
Lienart| N° d'inventaire | 23924 |
| Format | 23 x 29 |
| Détails | 296 pages, 250 illustrations, publisher's hardcover. |
| Publication | Paris, 2020 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782359063233 |
Since time immemorial, China has been interested in the Great Story of the Universe. From the earliest dynasties, sky watchers recorded the movements of celestial bodies. Cosmology became a state science, and sovereigns—the sons of Heaven—were the guarantors of the resonance of Heaven and the empire. The story of this marriage between Heaven and Earth can be deciphered through the prism of jade.
Only jade can bridge fifty centuries and simultaneously offer a mirror reflecting Heaven, Earth, and mankind. Emblematic symbols, mythical bestiary, and ritual instruments illustrate this idea, inviting the public to discover some 200 remarkable works. New aspects of Chinese civilization are explored and illuminated by archaeology, anthropology, and astronomy. This multidisciplinary approach is facilitated by simple mediation without departing from the existential questions that today involve all of humanity.
Filippo Salviati provides a solid scientific foundation for this collection by placing the jades in their historical context; Jean-Paul Desroches guides us in their reading by addressing the themes of the cult of Heaven and the cult of Earth, while Laure Schwartz-Arenales opens the great celestial bestiary with the sacred animals of the Four Directions. The path of the "Tao" that unites, condenses, and regenerates everything that circulates in Heaven and on Earth is addressed by Stephen Little. As for Jean-Marc Bonnet-Bidaud, he reveals the invaluable discoveries of celestial observers over the millennia. Adrien Bossard concludes by inviting us to follow in the footsteps of the sinologist and poet Victor Segalen.
Since time immemorial, China has been interested in the Great Story of the Universe. From the earliest dynasties, sky watchers recorded the movements of celestial bodies. Cosmology became a state science, and sovereigns—the sons of Heaven—were the guarantors of the resonance of Heaven and the empire. The story of this marriage between Heaven and Earth can be deciphered through the prism of jade.
Only jade can bridge fifty centuries and simultaneously offer a mirror reflecting Heaven, Earth, and mankind. Emblematic symbols, mythical bestiary, and ritual instruments illustrate this idea, inviting the public to discover some 200 remarkable works. New aspects of Chinese civilization are explored and illuminated by archaeology, anthropology, and astronomy. This multidisciplinary approach is facilitated by simple mediation without departing from the existential questions that today involve all of humanity.
Filippo Salviati provides a solid scientific foundation for this collection by placing the jades in their historical context; Jean-Paul Desroches guides us in their reading by addressing the themes of the cult of Heaven and the cult of Earth, while Laure Schwartz-Arenales opens the great celestial bestiary with the sacred animals of the Four Directions. The path of the "Tao" that unites, condenses, and regenerates everything that circulates in Heaven and on Earth is addressed by Stephen Little. As for Jean-Marc Bonnet-Bidaud, he reveals the invaluable discoveries of celestial observers over the millennia. Adrien Bossard concludes by inviting us to follow in the footsteps of the sinologist and poet Victor Segalen.