Issues with Application the Iconology Method of Chinese Art History: An Initial Approach in the Case of Han Dynasty

Abstract

Iconology is one of major methodologies of art history. It is also a very common approach in Chinese art history. Especially in Han-dynasty (BC 202-AD 220)3, the age that full with contextual and literal documents for preferences, also there are many works of art has revealed. This offers a great foundation for application of Iconology method.Some famous scholars with Chinese art history in Japan such as 信 立祥、曾布川 寬、土居 淑 子 in Japan, or Martin Powers, Wu Hung(巫鴻)in USA, published a lot of professional works last 30 years.However, there are some basic differences between the conventional of modern Iconology and Chinese art history, which could not be ignored. Such as the most historical documents examples of iconology is ”programme”. But in Chinese Art, as a matter of fact it's merely to say there has similar ”programme” in Chinese art history.Therefore, is it real undoubted that we could application the method of iconology directly without any adjustment? On the other hand, we need to figure out some solution for correcting those probable problems for utlize iconology into Chinese art-history.Further more, it is very common of modern designers in Taiwan, Hong-Kong or China, who likes to apply a lot of tradition icons from ancient china on present days. However, what if we ignore these probable problems of iconology in Chinese art-history, it might cause a lot mis-application of Creative Industry4. As well as for educating and culture passed down.According to above, the motivation of this issue has been emergence.