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Home , Chinese embroidery, Chinese zodiac, Fork

Discovery Chest Artifact Description Cards Child’s Rattle Who would have used this? • Children. What is this? • A popular children’s toy. Two small balls attached to the sides beat the hollow drum when it is spun. Its surface is sometimes painted. It is often found at festivals such as the Lunar New Year. What is its significance? • The Chinese hand drum, also called a rattle drum, originated in ancient China around 475-221 BC during the Song Dynasty (960-1276).

China 1A, GAMES Mask Who would have used this? • Children. What is this? • A traditional baby gift that is usually silk with hand stitching and embroidered appliques. The tiger is believed to protect the child from bad spirits and bring good luck. What is its significance? • The tiger hat can be traced as far back as the Qing dynasty.

China 2A, GAMES Tangrams Who would have used this? • Children. What is this? • The tangram is a very old puzzle originating in China and is sometimes called the Wisdom Puzzle. The set consists of seven pieces: five triangles, one square, and one rhomboid. When fitted together, these shapes make a design or picture. What is its significance? • The story goes that about four thousand years ago in China, a man named Tan went to show the emperor a fine ceramic tile, but on his way he fell and his tile broke into 7 pieces. Tan spent the rest of his life trying to put the pieces back together, but was unsuccessful. However, he made many different shapes and pictures. Tangrams provide excellent problem-solving activities, as well as developing form discrimination and visual perception.

China 4A, GAMES Shuttlecock Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • A traditional Asian game. Players aim to keep a weighted shuttlecock in the air using their feet and other parts of the body except the hands. The game dates back to the more than 2000 years ago, and peaked during the Tang Dynasty (618- 907), when shops specializing in shuttlecocks started to appear. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), formal shuttlecock kicking competitions were held. The game continued to evolve throughout Chinese history. What is its significance? • Chinese Hacky Sack was formally declared a national sport in 1933 and an International Shuttlecock Federation was founded in 1999. A World Shuttlecock Championship is held in different countries all around the world.

China 5A, GAMES Bamboo Mat Who would have used this? • Chinese calligraphers or anyone. What is this? • A mat used as storage or decoration. Chinese calligraphers and brush painters sometimes use these mats to store their brushes by hanging them or rolling them up. Bamboo mats are also used in many households as table placemats. What is its significance? • By rolling the brushes up this way the delicate hairs are protected from being bent or crushed.

China 1B, AND Brush

Who would have used this? • Calligraphy artists. What is this? • A brush used in painting. It is always held in an upright position with the handle perpendicular to the paper. The brush had to be held gently and steadily because the artist’s intuitions and thoughts guide the movement of the arm. These brushes can be made of stiff weasel hair, soft fleece and feathers, or a combination of both. Different brushes can be used to create different effects, such as the strong lines of a mountain or delicate subjects such as birds, insects, and flowers. What is its significance? • The brush is an artist’s “best friend” and a major contributor to Chinese painting.

China 2B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Calligraphy Writing Book

Who would have used this? • Chinese painters, students, and scholars. What is this? • A book containing admired masterworks. A student would place a writing sheet over the calligraphy book and trace the characters one at a time. What is its significance? • As in Chinese painting, copying is not frowned upon, but encouraged. It is considered an achievement to develop the ability to work in the style of several different masters. Once the student masters the basic principles of structure, the grid system is no longer needed and the characters are produced freely.

China 3B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Calligraphy Writing Sheets Who would have used this? • Students. What is this? • Thin rice paper with 3x3 grids of lines printed upon it. The students are taught to write by arranging the lines, strokes, and dots of each character in relation to this space. What is its significance? • When calligraphy is taught to children in school, writing sheets are usually used as guidance.

China 4B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Ink Stone Who would have used this? • Chinese painters. What is this? • Ink stones can be carved from precious jade or fashioned from ceramic ware, but are usually non- porous slate. They are engraved with a design and the surface is highly polished in order to facilitate the fine grinding of the ink stick on the grinding area, which may be circular or rectangular. There is also a shallow well at one end of a flat, sloping surface to serve as a reservoir for the liquefied ink, which is made by combining the ink stick powder with clear . What is its significance? • It is an important tool for painters. China 5B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Xuan (rice) Paper Who would have used this? • Traditional painters, masters and their pupils. What is this? • Paper made from rice straw, the bark of a special kind of tree, and other vegetable fibers. It is praised as the “king of all papers” and is supposed to “last a thousand years” because it is soft and firm, and resistant to aging and worms. It is good for painting because it absorbs, but does not spread, the ink from the brush, which sink in easily when water is added. What is its significance? • Xuan paper is used not only for painting and calligraphy, but for diplomatic notes, important archives, and other documents as well. In the old days in China, the master’s pupil held the paper in place for the master as he stood painting. The artist stands while painting in order to have a complete view of the entire paper. China 6B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Red Paste Who would have used this? • Calligraphers. What is this? • Ink paste to seal official documents. Paste is made of eight ingredients, some very precious: cinnabar, pearl, musk, coral, ruby, moxa, castor oil, and a red pigment. To make a seal imprint, the cut face of the seal is pressed against the inking pad several times for an even coat and then with pressure, the seal would be stamped on paper. The impressions are clear and defined. What is its significance? • This was used since ancient times to mark documents.

China 7B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Seal/Chop Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • A Chinese chop is a signature seal. Traditionally, Chinese have used a personal “chop,” or seal, as a sign of ownership or promise to perform some type of commitment, much as Westerners have used their handwritten signatures. What is its significance? • They are used in everyday life in China and other parts of Asia on checks, marriage documents, birth certificates, passports, and any other official papers. However, of all the applications, the highest aesthetic value of seals is their contribution to Chinese painting. Artists may also use the name of their studio, home, or birthplace as an identification seal. Side seals or mood seals depict the qualities of the artist, his or her works, or the virtue of the subject matter. China 8B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Seal Paste Container Who would have used this? • Calligraphers. What is this? • A porcelain container usually hand painted with the design of a in the sky. What is its significance? • Containers such as this are used to hold the damp red paste into which artists or calligraphers would press their seals in order to print them. The dragon figure is seen so often because they believe the dragon represents prowess, nobility, fortune, and can scare away evil.

China 9B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Ink Stick Who would have used this? • A traditional Chinese painter. What is this? • A stick of solid black pigment, usually of a rectangular shape. The dry ink stick gets ground on stone and mixed with fresh water to create a liquid ink used for painting. It is made from the soot of burnt pine , which is scraped off, heated, and strained. It is then mixed with glue. poured into molds, and placed in a sandalwood room so that as the ink solidifies and matures, it absorbs the fragrance of the sandalwood along with the pine scent. What is its significance? • It is an important tool for writing and painting.

China 10B, CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY Bamboo Flute Who would have used this? • Chinese orchestras or anyone. What is this? • One of the oldest Chinese instruments, with a musical scale of seven holes. It was invented several thousand years ago. Before playing, a very thin film of special paper is placed on top of the extra hole. When playing, the air stream coming out of that particular hole will vibrate the thin film and create the distinguishing di zi sound. What is its significance? • Because of its ability to perform a wide range of different styles of music, its simple structure, and the sweet sound it makes, the di zi has become one of the most important solo instruments in China and many other Asian countries.

China, 1D, MUSIC Abacus Who would have used this? • Merchants, traders, mathematicians, and clerks in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. What is this? • A calculating tool. It is made of a bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires. It was used for performing arithmetic processes before the adoption of the written modern numeral system. It can be used to add, subtract, multiply, or divide as well as to calculate square and cube roots. What is its significance? • Originating in China around 500 B.C. and introduced to by the 1600’s, the abacus is one of the first calculating tools and helped to develop a marketplace in . Today it remains an essential part of and many people still use it today as opposed to electronic calculators. China 1E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Bamboo Container

Who would have used this? • Chinese calligraphers. What is this? • Decorations or storage made of bamboo. This entire container is made from a single section of bamboo. used for storing brushes or other utensils. In this case, the brushes would be stored standing upright, with the handle down and the brush end up. The knot or joint of the bamboo (the solid part at the end of the hollow stem) has become the bottom end of the brush holder. What is its significance? • It is an important tool for calligraphers.

China 2E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Bamboo Container Who would have used this? • Anyone, from ordinary people to royalty and aristocracy. What is this? • Eating utensils made of bamboo, wood, gold, silver, ivory, pewter, or plastic. Some of them are engraved with colored pictures or calligraphy for decoration. They are held between the thumb and forefinger of your fork hand. One stays rests on the ring fingers and stays immobile, which the other is manipulated to pick up . What is its significance? • are first mentioned in the Book of Rites 2,000 years ago, but their initial form was the twigs that the primitive Chinese must have used to pick up a roast after they began to use . It is believed that bad luck will result if chopsticks are dropped or crossed, and an uneven pair of chopsticks means you are likely to miss your plane, train, or boat. Worst of all, you must never poke your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as that conjures up images of incense sticks in an urn of ashes—an omen of death.

China 3E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS China Fan Who would have used this? • The imperial guard of honor would fan the emperor. Both women and men use this. What is this? • Folding and unfolding fans. They may be made in several forms, such as round, square, oval, hexagonal, sunflower, and so on. They may be made of such materials as feather, silk, coarse and very fine bamboo strips, palm leaves, wheat straw, sandalwood, and ivory. They are sometimes decorated with paintings and writing and are primarily used to dispel the summer heat and sun. What is its significance? • Fans are a symbol of status, and known for adding sophistication to a woman. Stiff circular fans and feather fans were introduced from China to Japan in about the 6th Century. Traditionally, the folding fan was a Japanese invention that was introduced into China during the Sung dynasty (960-1279 AD).

China 4E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Paper Umbrella Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • They are used either against the rain or as parasols to give shade from the sun. These have long become part of the female attire, specifically. Umbrellas in China are made of various materials: oil paper, silk, and modern cottons and nylons. What is its significance? • The earliest umbrellas existed at least two thousand years ago and were made of silk. Oil paper umbrellas are made with bamboo frames, These are then coated with oil so that they are not only practical, but pretty and lasting. These may be used either in rain or sunshine. The prettiest Chinese umbrellas, however, are those covered with silk. The covers are hand-painted with flowers, birds, figures, and landscapes. China 5E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Food Steamer Who would have used this? • Any Chinese household. What is this? • A bamboo cooking basket that uses steam from water to cook food. It is used to cook seafood, meats, poultry, vegetables, dumplings, buns, and steamed custards. The basket sits an inch or so above boiling water so the steam heats and cooks the food. The basket has spaces between the slats on the bottom to let the steam in, and a lid to keep it there and prevent condensed water from dripping onto the food. What is its significance? • Traditional Chinese home kitchens do not have ovens, so the steamer helps fill its place.

China 7E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Cheongsam Who would have used this? • Women. What is this? • A traditional dress that may be worn at both casual and formal occasions. Cheongsam means “long dress,” originally a word from the dialect. But in Mandarin it is known as a “banner dress”. It may be made of silk, satin, brocade, or velvet, with elaborate and beadwork. When the early Manchus first invaded China in the 16th century, they were divided into eight groups, each with their own banner. The Manchu women normally wore a one-piece dress, a style that survived the political changes of the early 20th century. What is its significance? • The cheongsam has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.

China 8E, EVERYDAY USE ITEMS Papercuts Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • An art of creating household decorations. The motifs used in papercuts are unlimited, and typically popular symbols of Chinese culture such as mythical , good luck symbols, and folk heroes. They are widely used as patterns for embroidery and sometimes used for hair or food decorations. Some are used in the corners of mirrors, lanterns, fans, and offerings. Larger designs are used to decorate windows, door lintels, or ceilings. What is its significance? • While calligraphy and painting are considered the arts of the educated classes, Chinese is considered to be an art of the people of all ranks. As such, it was created by peasant women in the fifth century. Chinese people expressed their appreciation toward life through the art of papercuts. China 1F, CRAFTS Silk Embroidered Purse Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • Embroidery, a folk art with a long tradition. It is a feature of many Chinese household items, such as pillowcases, tablecloths, bedspreads, and napkins. It is also used on many traditional Chinese items of attire such as cheongsams, robes, and slippers, and accessories such as women’s hair decorations and purses. It was especially prominent in the provinces of Jiangsu, , , and . What is its significance? • The earliest piece of Chinese embroidery found dates back to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). The art became widespread during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and currently occupies an important position in the history of Chinese arts and crafts.

China 2F CRAFTS Silk Who would have used this? • Merchants would trade silk fabrics along the famous 6,000-mile , a caravan tract connecting China to the Mediterranean Sea. The road then became a waterway as silk was shipped to people in Greece and . What is this? • Silk is made from the cocoons of the silk moth. Before the worm changes to a moth, the fine thread is carefully unwound from the cocoon and joined with others to form a thread thick enough to weave into beautiful cloth. While silk had long been considered a fabric for the rich and powerful, today it has become feasible for people to own silks even if they are not heirs or members of nobility. What is its significance? • Silk was discovered in China around 2600 BC. Silk production eventually spread to Japan and India, and later to Italy and France. Many people use the fabric as a medium for artistic expression. Today, silk is enjoyed internationally in a multitude of ways. China, 3F, 4F, 6F, CRAFTS Kite Who would have used this? • Kite enthusiasts, children. What is this? • While today kites are commonly known as a children’s plaything made of silk, paper, and bamboo, the earliest Chinese kites were used for military purposes. They were large and powerful enough to carry men up in the air to observe enemy movements, or to scatter propaganda. Kites were also regarded as a magic link with the heavens, used to divine one’s destiny. They also had mythical and religious purposes. Later they were also used for scientific research. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), bamboo strips were attached to vibrate and ring in the breeze like a harp. What is its significance? • The first kites were believed to have been made in China over three thousand years ago, and kite making is still regarded as a traditional craft.

China, 5F CRAFTS Painting on Bamboo

Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • This painting would have been used as decoration in one’s home or office. Bamboo was also used for many other handicrafts such as screens, paintings, fruit boxes, and tea boxes. What is its significance? • China is the home of bamboo. Extensive use of the plant is found in articles of daily use as well as interior decoration.

China, 7F, CRAFTS Paper Lanterns Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • The most common Chinese lanterns are red, oval shaped, and decorated with red or golden tassels, but they can come in any shape. The original use of lanterns was primarily as a light source, but can be used for Buddhist worship, decoration, wedding and festival celebrations, and funerals. The Chinese first began making lanterns during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220), and in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), lanterns were made in order to celebrate the country’s era of peace and power. What is its significance? • Lanterns have become a symbol of national pride in China. Although there is no longer a practical need for Chinese lanterns, they are still made, used, and enjoyed by the Chinese people during festivals like , Lantern Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. China 1G, HOLIDAYS Lion Puppet– Lion Dance and Dragon

Dance Who would have used this? • Dancers and artists. What is this? • Large head and body masks manipulated by 2 to 3 dancers. Originally, it was used to pray for rain or stop the spread of epidemics and then evolved into a folk activity. Presently, the dance is strictly for entertainment. The Lion Dance and Dragon Dance originated in ancient China, and it was a popular activity since the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD). What is its significance? • The Lion Dance and Dragon Dance are considered an indispensable part in most of the Asian festivals, especially during the Chinese New Year. Chinese people believe that the dragon and lion represent prowess, nobility, and fortune.

China 2G, HOLIDAYS Paper Money Who would have used this? • The Chinese only used paper money on any meaningful scale between 1050 and 1450, overlapping the Song, Yuan (Mongol), and Ming dynasties. What is this? • Currency. Copper shortages were frequent which prompted the first real use of a paper money system. By the Tang Dynasty, people used paper money because their devalued were becoming too heavy to carry. Paper money originated during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) as credit or exchange notes. What is its significance? • Paper money is used internationally as a means of commerce. The exchange of paper money helped economies evolve beyond the barter system. t's convenient, it's versatile, it's accepted almost anywhere. China 3G, HOLIDAYS Red Envelopes Who would have used this? • Children. What is this? • Money given to children on Chinese New Year in red paper envelopes. The children receive these envelopes from their immediate family members as well as from other married relatives and friends. Only paper money is given since change is considered to be bad luck. What is its significance? • Red is always used because it is the special color associated with good luck and happiness.

China, 4G, HOLIDAYS Chart Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • is a twelve-year cycle. Each year is named after an . The animal that represents the year of a person’s birth becomes their animal sign, which determines their character and destiny. The Chinese zodiac animals are: , , tiger, , dragon, , , ram, , , , and boar. Processions of the zodiac animals have been a part of the New Year festivities as far back as some 1,500 years ago. What is its significance? • One legend says that Buddha invited all the animals to a gathering before he departed from the . These were the only animals that appeared, and so as a token of his gratitude, Buddha named one year after each animal in the order of their arrival. Another legend attributes the sequence of the animals to the order in which they finished a contest where they were asked to cross a large river . China 5G, HOLIDAYS Coins Who would have used this? • People began to use coins in the second Chinese dynasty of the Shang and were later used by Western and Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin Dynasty. What is this? • Currency. The coins used in these time periods were cowry shells, spade, knife coins, round coins, and Yuan of Chu (stamped gold coins). These coins were used starting in the Shang period around 1500 BC and ends in 221 BC, just before the King of Qin became the first emperor of a unified Chinese empire. What is its significance? • Although China was mostly an agrarian society that traded goods and services, people additionally would exchange coins. Coins were also used to pay taxes to landlords.

China 1I, MISCELLANEOUS Opera Masks Who would have used this? • It is enjoyed by political leaders and commoners alike. What is this? • Wood or leather masks painted to distinguish its character. Exaggerated designs symbolize a character's personality, role, and fate. Generally, a red face represents loyalty and bravery; a black face, valor; yellow and white faces, duplicity; and golden and silver faces, mystery. The practice started during the Qin Dynasty and gradually became accepted by first the upper class, then ordinary people. What is its significance? • Today, there are over 300 dazzling regional opera styles.

China 1J, THEATRE Chinese Chess Who would have used this? • Anyone. What is this? • Chinese chess consists of a board with a 9x10 grid, and thirty- two pieces, sixteen for each side. The chessmen have the following ranks: general, mandarins, elephants, horses, prime minister, war chariots, and soldiers. In Chinese chess, the object of the game is to capture the opponent’s most important piece; in this case, the most important piece is the general, with the object of taking the enemy fortress by storm. What is its significance? • The word chess in Chinese literally means “the game of elephant.” Since elephants are not native to China, it is thought that the game may have originated in India. Nonetheless, Chinese chess is so popular in China that people often carry a set with them.

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