DES 201 Design, Cultural Traditions and the Environmentspring 2017 department of design, cvpa, syracuse university TEST 5, PART A, Essay/Take-Home: Ancient China & Japan Due Wed, 4/19 In Class To be turned in in class, printed, same format requirements as previously. THIS MUST BE TURNED IN AS ONE SHEET! All of the works asked about below (including the Pagoda building type and its evolution) are pictured in the textbook. Use those images to help you be accurate and specific in your comparisons and expalnations. 1.a) Discuss the Nanchan Temple as a typical example of ancient Chinese architecture. What are the key characteristics of structure, material and form, how do they relate directly to the natural environment of ancient China? How do these traits in turn relate to the key cultural beliefs and ways of thinking in ancient Chinese society? In other words, how is it typical of the main form of ancient Chinese architecture we studied, and how can you use it as an example of some of the “big ideas” (for China) discussed in class? Consider Confucianism and Daoism as two different strands of Chinese thinking, and discuss how the Temple reflects both in specific ways. (Talk about specific features of the building that are typical of classic Chinese architecture.) b) Now consider the Ise Shrine in the same way? What is Japanese about it, and how does it exemplify the main ideas we discussed? How would you distinguish it from the Nanchan Temple? What’s different, but also what is similar, and why? Remember to consider the site (designed landscape) immediately around the central shrine buildings (as compared with the Nanchan Temple setting) as it has important implications for answering the question. Remember to discuss Shinto as a characteristically Japanese way of spirituality, as it is expressed at the Shrine. 2.a) Consider the “Moon Cakes” (Rainbow-Bridge-to-the-Moon) story. What is the type of building that is noted early in the story and is important to it’s imagery and themes. What is the significance of this particular building to the story in terms of what the story is about and what it presents as key themes? What is the origin, very simply, of this building type as we discussed it in class, and why is it so significant as an expression of certain ancient Chinese ideas? What aspects of, or elements in the story reinforce the deeper ideas or themes you relate to this history? What specific features or aspects of the building type help to express its meaning? b) Now look at the Chinese Silk Banner in the textbook, consider it as discussed in class – and in light of the Moon Cakes story asked about above. How does is the banner typically ancient Chinese in terms of symbols, and key ideas or attitudes? What main ideas or attitudes does silk as used in ancient Chinese design seem to most directly relate to, and how? Your answer to 2b should have some connection to your answer to 2a. 3.

1. DES 201 Design, Cultural Traditions and the Environmentspring
2017
department of
design, cvpa, syracuse university
TEST 5, PART A, Essay/Take-Home: Ancient China & Japan
Due Wed, 4/19 In Class
To be turned in in class, printed, same format requirements as
previously. THIS MUST BE TURNED IN AS ONE SHEET!
All of the works asked about below (including the Pagoda
building type and its evolution) are pictured in the textbook.
Use those images to help you be accurate and specific in your
comparisons and expalnations.
1.a) Discuss the Nanchan Temple as a typical example of
ancient Chinese architecture. What are the key characteristics of
structure, material and form, how do they relate directly to the
natural environment of ancient China? How do these traits in
turn relate to the key cultural beliefs and ways of thinking in
ancient Chinese society? In other words, how is it typical of the
main form of ancient Chinese architecture we studied, and how
can you use it as an example of some of the “big ideas” (for
China) discussed in class? Consider Confucianism and Daoism
as two different strands of Chinese thinking, and discuss how
the Temple reflects both in specific ways. (Talk about specific
features of the building that are typical of classic Chinese
architecture.)
b) Now consider the Ise Shrine in the same way? What is

2. Japanese about it, and how does it exemplify the main ideas we
discussed? How would you distinguish it from the Nanchan
Temple? What’s different, but also what is similar, and why?
Remember to consider the site (designed landscape)
immediately around the central shrine buildings (as compared
with the Nanchan Temple setting) as it has important
implications for answering the question.
Remember to discuss Shinto as a characteristically Japanese
way of spirituality, as it is expressed at the Shrine.
2.a) Consider the “Moon Cakes” (Rainbow-Bridge-to-the-Moon)
story. What is the type of building that is noted early in the
story and is important to it’s imagery and themes. What is the
significance of this particular building to the story in terms of
what the story is about and what it presents as key themes?
What is the origin, very simply, of this building type as we
discussed it in class, and why is it so significant as an
expression of certain ancient Chinese ideas? What aspects of, or
elements in the story reinforce the deeper ideas or themes you
relate to this history? What specific features or aspects of the
building type help to express its meaning?
b) Now look at the Chinese Silk Banner in the textbook,
consider it as discussed in class – and in light of the Moon
Cakes story asked about above. How does is the banner
typically ancient Chinese in terms of symbols, and key ideas or
attitudes? What main ideas or attitudes does silk as used in
ancient Chinese design seem to most directly relate to, and
how? Your answer to 2b should have some connection to your
answer to 2a.
3.a) Consider the Japanese Album Leaf calligraphy shown in the

3. textbook and in class: How is it typically Japanese in character,
and how does this work of Japanese calligraphy relate to the
Feng Ju album selection of Chinese calligraphy (also shown in
the Textbook)? Relate them to the typical traits / themes we
outlined for the two cultures.
b) Can you find (and explain) a link to the Bamboo Cutter
story in this work, or in any of the Japanese design we looked
at? Relate it to the calligraphy above (the Album Leaf
calligraphy), but also to Japanese architecture or interior design
in some way (the Ise Shrine, at least). (Go back to the main
theme we developed for Japanese design.)
c) Briefly state the important differences between the Yin-
Yang symbol from Daoism and the Enso form from Zen
Buddhist practice, as discussed in class, in the context of (in
connection with) the observations you made about calligraphy
above.