Задание по англискому языку

1. Read and translate the text in writing form.

Indian, Chinese and Japanese Art

Indian art includes the painting, sculpture, and architecture of India. Indian art dates back to the Indus Valley civilization of about 3000 BC.

Buddhist art includes sculpture and murals created in the periods of the Gandhara and Gupta kingdoms. The first known images of the Buddha were produced in a monumental soft and rounded style that was exported, with the Buddhist religion, to China, Korea, and Japan.

Hindu art was influenced by Buddhist art. But, unlike Buddhist art, Hindu art shows the human figure curved and filled with potential motion. Ancient beliefs of the India understood the body as an aesthetic form second only to the deities. Hindu art reflects the life rhythms of the fundamental themes of this religion. Hindu art works are usually brass statues of Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, and other symbols of devoting. Hindu art creates brilliant sculptural schemes in rock-cut caves at Mamallapuram, and known for their ensemble of religious art (Buddhist, Hindu, and Japan) dating from the 6th and 7th centuries.

Mogul art dates from the Muslim invasion of north-west India in the Middle Ages. The invaders destroyed Buddhist and Hindu temple art and introduced their own styles, particular of the Islamic art. The Koran forbids human and animal representation in art, therefore Islamic artistry was channeled into calligraphy and ornament. Ceramic tiles decorated mosques and palaces.

Court artists excelled in miniature painting.

The Shiraz School is distinguished by its brilliance of coloring, a love of gorgeous landscapes, by the frequent inclusion of freely drawn bird and flower motifs in the margins, and by faces and figures with rounded contours, fine lines, narrow eyes, and rather characteristic profile glances. A new system of vertical perspective is evident in which figures are shown one over the other, and where such things as ponds and carpets appear as flat on the page.

With the arrival of Prince Humay, the symbolic decorative basis of Persian painting is here fully apparent. The flowers bask in the brilliance of daylight while the stars shine in the sky, combining realism with symbolism. The artist is completely unbounded by the practicality of naturalism, yet his approach remains completely comprehensible.

The art of pottery was greatly advanced in the ninth century with the development of the technique of luster painting. Luster painting is a spectacular means of decorating pottery, perhaps in imitation of precious metal, which was first developed in Iraq and subsequently spread to Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Spain. The production of luster-decorated pottery was complicated, costly, and time-consuming, indicating that such objects were regarded as luxury wares. This technique combines silver and copper oxides with sulfur and other materials, which are applied in liquefied form to the surface of a previously glazed and fired object. The ware is then refried in a muffled, or reducing, kiln, so that the oxygen is drawn out from the metal oxides, producing a dazzling metallic surface. Lusterware can vary in colour from a rich gold to deep reddish brown.

From the Bronze Age to the Cultural Revolution, Chinese art shows a stylistic unity unparalleled in any other culture. From about the 1st century AD Buddhism inspired much sculpture and painting in China. Bronze Age Chinese art is characterized by rich burial goods with bronzes and jade carvings decorated with hieroglyphs and simple stylized animal forms. Life-size terracotta figures from the Qin Period guards the tomb of Emperor Shi Huangdi in the old capital of Xian.

Once Buddhism was established in China it inspired a monumental art, with huge rock-cut and bronze images in rounded forms.

Tang dynasty art shows naturalistic portraits, such as the carved figures of Buddhist monks.

The golden age of Chinese painting was the Song Dynasty (960 – 1278). The imperial court created its own workshop, fostering a fine calligraphic art, mainly developed to natural subjects – landscape, mountains, trees, flowers, birds. Genre scenes of court beauties were also popular. Scrolls, albums, and fans of silk or paper were painted with watercolors and ink, using soft brushes. Painting was associated with literature, and painters, added poems or quotations to their work. The Song Dynasty also produced the first true porcelain of classic simplicity.

Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) painters continued the landscape tradition. The Song style of porcelain gave way to elaborate work of rich colours.

Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) painters developed personal styles of brushwork. In the 20th century the strong spirit that supported traditional art began to fade.

Early Japanese art was influenced by China. Painting later developed a distinct Japanese character, bolded and more angular, with the spread of Zen Buddhism in the 12th century. Ink painting and calligraphy flourished, followed by book illustration and decorative screens. Japanese pottery stresses simplicity.

The 17th century saw the beginnings of kabuki, the popular drama of Japan. Kabuki Theater was founded by a shrine maiden that brought her unique dance style to the ancient capital of Kyoto, and over the next 300 years this art of performing developed into a highly stylized form of theater. Though, kabuki was created by a woman, since the early days all roles have been taken by men. Kabuki Theater is an establishment in which the Japanese take great pride.



1. Answer the questions:

1. What do you know about the influence of Buddhist art?

2. What ensemble of religious art combines the three religions of India?

3. What invaders destroyed Buddhist and Hindu temples?

4. What is particular to Islamic art?

5. What do you know about Chinese and Japanese porcelain and pottery?

6. Who created Kabuki?

2. Agree or disagree:

1. Indian art includes the painting, music and sculpture.

2. Buddhist religion and art were exported to Iran and Iraq.

3. Hindu art was influenced by Buddhist art.

4. Mogul art dates from the Muslim invasion of north-west India in the 20th century.

5. The Koran forbids human and animal representation in art.

6. Terracotta figures from the Qin Period guards the tomb of Emperor Shi Huangdi in the old capital of Xian.

7. Kabuki was created by a woman and since the early days all roles have been taken by women.

3. Make the outline of the text.

4. Retell the text in 10 sentences.