Six Arts

TheSix Artsformed the basis ofeducationin ancientChinese culture.These were made and practiced by the Confucians.

History

During theZhou dynasty(1122–256 BCE)^{[citation needed]},students were required to master the "liù yì" ( lục nghệ ) (Six Arts):^[1]

Rites( lễ )
Music( nhạc )
Archery( xạ )
ChariotryorEquestrianism( ngự )
Calligraphy( thư ) or Literature
Mathematics( sổ )

Men who excelled in these six arts were thought to have reached the state of perfection, becoming aperfect gentleman.^{[citation needed]}

The Six Arts were practiced by scholars and existed before Confucius, but became a part ofConfucian philosophy.As such,Xu Gan(170–217 CE) discusses them in theBalanced Discourses.^{[citation needed]}

The Six Arts were practiced by the72 disciples of Confucius.^[2]

The Six Arts concept developed during thepre-imperialperiod. It incorporated both military and civil components. The civil side was later associated with thefour arts(qinplaying,chess,calligraphyand painting). However, the latter was more of aleisurecharacteristic for thelate imperial time.It evidently overlaps with the Six Arts, since the qin epitomized music, chess (Go,a board-game known by its Japanese name) related to military strategy, while calligraphy dealt with the aesthetics of writing and character cultivation (the rites).^{[citation needed]}

Influence

The emphasis on the Six Arts bred Confucian gentlemen, orJunzi,who knew more than just canonical scholarship. The requirement of students to master the Six Arts parallels the Western concept of theRenaissance man.The classical interest practical scholarship invigorated Chinese mathematics, astronomy, and science (e.g.Liu Hui,Zu Chongzhi,Shen Kuo,Yang Hui,Zhu Shijie). This tradition receded after theYuan dynasty(1271–1368), whenneo-Confucianismunderscored the importance of theAnalectsover the other arts and technical fields.^{[citation needed]}

At theGuozijian,the Imperial University, law, math, calligraphy,equestrianism,andarcherywere emphasized by the MingHongwu Emperorin addition to the Confucian classics, and was also required for theImperial Examinations.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]Archery and equestrianism were added to the exam by Hongwu in 1370 and archery and equestrianism were required for non-military officials at the võ cử College of War in 1162 by SongEmperor Xiaozong.^[9]The area around the Meridian Gate of Nanjing was used for archery by guards and generals under Hongwu.^[10]

By theQing dynasty,Chinese specialists were not able to manage thelunar calendaraccurately, and the calendar went out of phase with nature. This was a great embarrassment to the Chinese court, as the adherence to the lunar calendars by the vassal states was a recognition of the sovereignty of the Chinese court. Western astronomical expertise (seeJesuit China missions) was welcomed as an aftermath of Chinese interest in astronomy and mathematics, partially formulated in the classical Six Arts agenda.^{[citation needed]}

References

^Zhidong Hao (1 February 2012).Intellectuals at a Crossroads: The Changing Politics of China's Knowledge Workers.SUNY Press. pp. 37–.ISBN 978-0-7914-8757-0.
^Modern Chinese Religion I (2 vol.set): Song-Liao-Jin-Yuan (960-1368 AD).BRILL. 8 December 2014. pp. 816–.ISBN 978-90-04-27164-7.
^Frederick W. Mote; Denis Twitchett (26 February 1988).The Cambridge History of China: Volume 7, The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644.Cambridge University Press. pp. 122–.ISBN 978-0-521-24332-2.
^Stephen Selby (1 January 2000).Chinese Archery.Hong Kong University Press. pp. 267–.ISBN 978-962-209-501-4.
^Edward L. Farmer (1995).Zhu Yuanzhang and Early Ming Legislation: The Reordering of Chinese Society Following the Era of Mongol Rule.BRILL. pp. 59–.ISBN 90-04-10391-0.
^Sarah Schneewind (2006).Community Schools and the State in Ming China.Stanford University Press. pp. 54–.ISBN 978-0-8047-5174-2.
^"Ming Empire 1368-1644 by Sanderson Beck".
^"Chinese archery training background text".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-10-12.Retrieved2010-12-17.
^Lo Jung-pang (1 January 2012).China as a Sea Power, 1127-1368: A Preliminary Survey of the Maritime Expansion and Naval Exploits of the Chinese People During the Southern Song and Yuan Periods.NUS Press. pp. 103–.ISBN 978-9971-69-505-7.
^"Hongwu Reign|The Palace Museum".

[Hao2012-1] Zhidong Hao (1 February 2012).Intellectuals at a Crossroads: The Changing Politics of China's Knowledge Workers.SUNY Press. pp. 37–.ISBN 978-0-7914-8757-0.

[2] Modern Chinese Religion I (2 vol.set): Song-Liao-Jin-Yuan (960-1368 AD).BRILL. 8 December 2014. pp. 816–.ISBN 978-90-04-27164-7.

[MoteTwitchett1988-3] Frederick W. Mote; Denis Twitchett (26 February 1988).The Cambridge History of China: Volume 7, The Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644.Cambridge University Press. pp. 122–.ISBN 978-0-521-24332-2.

[Selby2000-4] Stephen Selby (1 January 2000).Chinese Archery.Hong Kong University Press. pp. 267–.ISBN 978-962-209-501-4.

[Farmer1995-5] Edward L. Farmer (1995).Zhu Yuanzhang and Early Ming Legislation: The Reordering of Chinese Society Following the Era of Mongol Rule.BRILL. pp. 59–.ISBN 90-04-10391-0.

[Schneewind2006-6] Sarah Schneewind (2006).Community Schools and the State in Ming China.Stanford University Press. pp. 54–.ISBN 978-0-8047-5174-2.

[7] "Ming Empire 1368-1644 by Sanderson Beck".

[8] "Chinese archery training background text".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-10-12.Retrieved2010-12-17.

[Jung-pang2012-9] Lo Jung-pang (1 January 2012).China as a Sea Power, 1127-1368: A Preliminary Survey of the Maritime Expansion and Naval Exploits of the Chinese People During the Southern Song and Yuan Periods.NUS Press. pp. 103–.ISBN 978-9971-69-505-7.

[10] "Hongwu Reign|The Palace Museum".

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History

Influence

See also

References