Introduction To Chinese Art

PREFACE IN 1921 Mr. Laurence Binyon fired me with his own enthusiasm, for the art of China, and it was largely as a result of my talks with him that I ulti mately spent several happy years in that country. Since then Mr. Binyons example and his writings arid lectures on Chinese painting have been perennial sources of inspiration, and 1 owe him a debt of grati tude which I can never repay. Indeed, the comple tion of this book has been made possible by help and encouragement, from friends too numerous for indi vidual mention here, although F have already tried to express my thanks to them personally. I am especially grateful to Mr. Bernard Rackham, of l ho Victoria and Albert Museum, who has road the book in proof and has given invaluable advice and oust ant help both directly and through his own writings. 1 am deeply indebted also to Mr. L. C. Hopkins for his great, kindness in reading the proofs and for much good counsel, Mr. Basil Cray, of the British Museum, generously helped mo in. the same way. To Or, W. J. Constable, Director of the Courtauld Institute of Fine Art, 1 also owe much, for during our brief association at two of the groat Winter Exhibi tions at the Royal Academy I learnt to admire his personal qualities and his methods of work, and since that time I have been one of the many who have Preface enjoyed the benefits of his administration at the Gourtauld Institute. At the Institute I acquired use ful knowledge from the lectures of Professor Perceval Yetts, and I have also learnt a great deal from his writings. I have drawn freely on these, particularly in connexion with archaeology, architecture, and bronzes, and I wish here to record my lively sense of gratitude to him Norecord of thanks would be complete without an expression of the admiration and gratitude which all lovers of Chinese art owe to Mr. George Eumor fopoulos My debt is a great one, not only because I have so often accepted his open invitation to visit his magnificent collection, but also because this col lection has supplied many of my finest illustrations. Mr. S. I. Hsiung, the author of Lady Precious Sit earn, and Mr. Y. Chiang, of the School of Oriental Studies, are owed a special word of thanks for their notes on Chinese literature and history. Mr O. H. Bedford, who has provided some delightful illustrations for this book, has kindly given me most welcome assistance in innumerable ways from its inception and has, in addition, assisted with maps. There are many others whose works have been a constant source of enjoyment and knowledge. I owe most to Dr J. Gunnar Andersson and his fascinating book Children of the Tellow Earth. But almost as great is my indebtedness to Mr. R. L. Hobson, of the British Museum, to the late Dr. Berthold Laufcr, of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Preface ix U. S. A, to Sir Aurel Stein, Mr Leigh Ashton, Dr. Osvald Siren, and Dr. Richard Wilhelm. My grate ful acknowledgements are also due to the authors and publishers of the following books, from which I have quoted various poems and translations of passages in Chinese literature 170 Chinese Poems, Arthur Waley, Constable Co, Ltd., Chinese Art, S. W. Bushell, Victoria and Albert Museum Handbook, An Outline History of China, Herbert H Gowen, Sherman, French Co Besides these there are many authors whom I have not mentioned, but whose works I have consulted with the very efficient and helpful cooperation of Mrs. Cardew, Librarian of the Royal Asiatic Society...