The culture of Artsakh- Nagorno Karabakh
Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and adjacent territories belonging to the historical provinces of Syunik and Utik of historical Armenia have been called an open-sky treasure receptacle of various forms of art and architecture of global significance. Overall, Artsakh hosts several thousand historical monuments. In addition to ecclesiastical structures, this number includes samples of civil architecture, castles, fortresses, numerous khachkars, and three mosques. The art and architecture created on the territory of the Republic of Artsakh have progressed through the same major stages as Armenian art in a larger sense. They began developing in pre-Christian times, proceeded through the adoption of Christianity in the
The Western woman in a Chinese “longpao dress” painted by the Armenian-Polish artist Teodor Axentowicz
The National Museum of Warsaw, Poland, houses a pastel portrait of an unknown Western woman wearing a Chinese dragon robe ( "Masters of pastel. From Marteau to Witkacy. Collection of the National Museum in Warsaw", cat. I.5), executed by the celebrated Armenian-Polish artist Theodore Axentowicz (1859-1938). Dated to the 1920s, the current work channels the European vogue of the time related to the representations of female figures with European physiques, wearing Chinese gowns, Japanese kimonos, and Oriental costumes, as an epitome of exquisite, exotic taste and wealth. Dragon robes, also known as gunlongpao (simplified Chinese: 袞龙袍; traditional Chinese: 袞龍袍) or “longpao”
Chinese “Ancestral portraits”
Portraiture of the senior family members, made while they were alive or based on descriptions and imaginations, constituted an important part of classic Chinese figure paintings.The Chinese Traditional Culture Museum in Beijing unveiled an Ancestral Worship exhibition on the 1st of January to showcase selected ancestral portraits in the collection of the Chinese National Academy of Arts.The show surveys the tradition from both an artistic aspect and as a custom that embodied cultural significance to ancient Chinese — paying respect to those who passed away, remembering their high morality, and by which educating the young to uphold their principles.Ancestral portraits
Armenians celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January
Armenian Christmas is celebrated annually on January 6. This holiday has been a part of Armenian traditions for more than 1700 years and has been celebrated similarly since its inception.Unlike Catholics, Armenians celebrate the Epiphany of Christ, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the son of God, rather than Christ’s birthday. Armenians celebrate this religious holiday by fasting, followed by feasts, including rice, nuts, desserts, and candies.Some Armenians observe a fast a week before Armenian Christmas. It is followed by celebrations similar to Christmas celebrated worldwide on December 25. The festivities include meeting up for family dinners, making
What kind of crown did princes of the Ming Dynasty wear?
What kind of crown did princes of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) wear? The nine-string mian (crown) provides some clues.As the most important ritual crown in the Ming Dynasty clothing system, the "mian" is woven from cane with black paint and gold decor. A black plank is attached to its top, adorned with nine front and back strings. Each string contains nine beads in red, white, green, yellow, and black colors.Unearthed from the tomb of Zhu Tan, Prince of Lu of the Ming Dynasty in Zoucheng, Shandong province, in 1971, the crown is considered one of the archeological treasures housed at
