Although the arts of Buddhism and Daoism are well known, the study of art forms related to Confucianism is still in its infancy. Confucianism, a philosophy based on the teachings of Confucius (551 BCE – 479 BCE), pervades the customs of many Asian cultures from ancient times to the present day, but we are left to wonder, who was Confucius? In this ground-breaking exhibition, intriguing aspects of Confucius and Confucianism are explored through material and visual culture, explaining his teachings and ritual practices. Selected from the Shandong Provincial Museum and the Confucius Museum in Qufu, Shandong, the hometown of Confucius, these works of art, including paintings, bronzes, jades, books, costumes, stone carvings, and enamel vessels represent the first exhibition organized in the United States that illuminates Confucius as an historical figure and explores his continued popularity and veneration over the past 2,000 years. A fully illustrated scholarly catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
The exhibition is directed by Willow Hai Chang, Director of China Institute Gallery, and co-curated by Lu Wensheng, Director of the Shandong Provincial Museum, and Julia K. Murray, Professor of Art History and East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin.
This program is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
