Keywords
fine arts, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, artistic tradition, Khitans, Liao Empire,
How to Cite
Hastuya L., Uranchimeg D. The influence of philosophical movements and artistic traditions of China on the fine arts of the Khitan Liao Empire // The Art of Eurasia, 2024. № 1 (32). P. 34-49. URL: https://doi.org/10.46748/ARTEURAS.2024.01.003.
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Abstract
The article discusses the development of fine arts among the Khitan people, who established the Liao Empire during the Middle Ages. The empire was located in modern-day Mongolia and Northern China, and was influenced by various cultural currents that impacted the spiritual life and creative activity of the Khitans to varying degrees. The article aims to analyse the process of intensive interaction between Khitans and Chinese culture, resulting in the formation of an original artistic tradition on local soil. This tradition was influenced by Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism in terms of world outlook. Analysis of this tradition allows us to conclude that Khitan artists took a selective approach to adapting motifs, style and visual content borrowed from Chinese art. The influence of Confucian teachings, manifested in the conscious affirmation of ideas of social order through artistic means, and the influence of Buddhism, which determined the nature of the artists’ world-view and contributed to the creation of the developed iconography, are shown. The conclusion is substantiated that the spiritual culture and art of the Khitan people represent a unique synthesis of different world-views and artistic traditions.
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