Art by Literati

Art by Literati examines the integration of calligraphic inscription into the cultural practices of the literati in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century China. Traditionally, inscriptions were created through collaboration between a literatus-calligrapher and an artisan-carver. However, during the Qing dynasty, literati began to take on the role of carvers themselves, challenging the conventional separation between intellectual and manual labor. This book explores how the literati's involvement in inscription carving blurred the cultural and social boundaries between them and artisans, who were becoming increasingly well-educated. Through an analysis of intellectual, aesthetic, and practical aspects of this practice, Art by Literati reveals the complex dynamics of literati and artisanal identities, emphasizing the situational and fluid nature of these roles. The collaborative production of inscribed artifacts serves as a key focus, illustrating how individuals navigated and merged the traditionally distinct domains of literati and artisans. This study highlights the futility of rigidly classifying individuals as either literati or artisans and instead offers a nuanced understanding of their interconnected roles in the cultural landscape of Qing China.

*Art by Literati has been awarded the Millard Meiss Publication Fund of CAA and includes color illustrations.

This book is part of the Cambria Sinophone World Series.