In China, each animal is defined and assigned a unique place in the universe and defined according to the Chinese concept of nature. Furthermore, the symbolism of Chinese animals, like other subjects in Chinese painting, has evolved significantly overtime concurrent with the changing world. From the ancient yin/yang cosmology to the later development of Confucian and Daoist philosophies and ethics, Chinese animals gained new meanings related to their historical contexts. Recent research reveals that this evolving symbolism of various animals can best be understood as part of an emblematic language not only of individual styles, but also of the shifting political and social climates in Chinese history.
This virtual lecture will explore the historical background and symbolism behind the Chinese depiction of phoenixes and eagles, the two birds featured in the Norton Museum of Art’s new installation, Kings of Birds. The lecture will also decode the hidden political and social messages conveyed through symbolic associations or homonymic puns in these paintings, which have been nearly forgotten for many centuries.
Dr. Hou-mei Sung has served as the curator of East Asian Art at the Cincinnati Art Museum since 2002. Dr. Sung received a B.A. in foreign languages and literature and an M.A. in Chinese history, both from the National Taiwan University. She also earned a Ph.D. in museum studies from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to coming to Cincinnati, Dr. Sung served as research associate at the Cleveland Museum of Art and a variety of research and teaching positions in museum and academic fields in Asia and throughout the United States.