Confucius:
Shaping Values Through Art
September 17, 2008 - January 11, 2009

The Four Sons of Filial Piety (detail), China, late 19th century Hanging of silk, satin, and metallic threads, Pacific Asia Museum Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Johansing, 1991.17.2, Photo by Julian Bermudez

At a time when interest in China and its rich culture is increasing internationally, China’s interest in its own history and traditions has also been growing. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, the Chinese have been looking to their past as they plan for their future.

Most notably, the Chinese have been showing a renewed interest in the teachings of Confucius, a philosopher, teacher and political thinker, who lived 2,500 years ago.

Confucius: Shaping Values Through Art explores how Confucian values have permeated East Asian culture. It utilizes the Museum’s own collection as a case study.

The exhibition will include Chinese ink rubbings, folk paintings, and copies of the classic, The Analects (a text containing teachings attributed to Confucius). Other objects include Chinese silk embroideries and Japanese woodblock prints related to the ritual of honoring the ancestors, an important concept in Confucian ideology.

Meher McArthur
Guest Curator

This exhibition is made possible by The James Irvine Foundation, Carolyn Hsu Balcer and René Balcer, and Dr. George W. Housner

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