Chinese Influences in Vietnamese Art

Northern Vietnamese art and architecture was highly influenced by over a century of Chinese domination.

Learning Objective

Evaluate the influence of Chinese culture on Vietnamese art

Key Points

The art of Northern Vietnam was strongly influenced by Chinese domination (111 BCE—939 CE), reflecting Confucian and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.
During the millennium of Chinese domination, artists in the north of Vietnam began to apply newly learned Chinese techniques to art in conjunction with traditional indigenous methods, including advanced bronze-casting.
The period of rule under the Lý Dynasty (1009–1225) is commonly considered a golden age in Vietnamese art, and its ceramics became famous across Southeast Asia and the Far East.
Vietnam was conquered and ruled by the Ming Dynasty of China between 1407 and 1427 CE; during this period, many classical Vietnamese books were burned under an extreme process of sinicization.

Term

sinicization
To make Chinese in character or to change or modify by Chinese influence.

Full Text

Overview

Vietnamese art and architecture has a long, rich history and has been shaped by the interaction of local customs with foreign cultures. Unlike the Champa art of southern and central Vietnam, the art of Northern Vietnam was strongly influenced by Chinese domination (2nd century BCE—10th century CE) and reflected Confucian and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.

The Art of Northern Vietnam

Early Chinese Domination

During the millennium of Chinese domination (111 BCE–939 CE), artists in the north of Vietnam began to apply newly learned Chinese techniques to art, specifically ceramics, in conjunction with art created using traditional indigenous methods, including advanced bronze-casting. Chinese-influenced philosophies such as Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism left lasting impressions on Vietnamese culture and art, which continued to flourish between the 10th and 15th centuries after Chinese dominance had waned. However, the ceramics from this period were considerably influenced by the Tang and Song dynasties of China.

The Lý Dynasty

The period of rule under the Lý Dynasty (1009–1225 CE) is commonly considered a golden age in Vietnamese art, and its ceramics became famous across Southeast Asia and the Far East. Many Vietnamese landmarks were constructed during this period. The One Pillar Pagoda, for example, was built in 1049 and is widely regarded as one of Vietnam's most iconic Buddhist temples. The Temple of Literature is a Confucian temple in Hanoi, built in 1070 and reconstructed between 1225—1400, that housed the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university. The temple layout is similar to that of the temple at Qufu, Shandong, Confuscius' birthplace. It covers an area of over 54,000 square meters, including the surrounding Lake of Literature, a park, and the interior courtyards, which are enclosed by a brick wall. In front of the Great Gate are four tall pillars, and on either side of the pillars are two stelae, or stone tablets commanding horsemen to dismount.

Temple of Literature, Main Gate, Hanoi

Built in 1070, this Confucian temple is one of the greatest Vietnamese landmarks constructed during the Lý Dynasty.

The Ming and Subsequent Dynasties

Vietnam was conquered and ruled by the Ming Dynasty of China between 1407 and 1427 CE. This period of Chinese domination was extremely harsh, and many classical Vietnamese books were burned as an extreme process of sinicization was enforced. Consequently, the art of this period was heavily influenced by the Ming Dynasty, a process that continued even after the liberation of Vietnam by the Lê Dynasty (1428–1788). The Nguyễn Dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam, witnessed a renewed interest in ceramics and porcelain, which became famous and were imported to imperial courts across Asia.

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