Natural History and Chinese Painting

The Project

This research project considers the intersections between natural science and visual culture in traditional China. We aim to identify the birds, plants, and other biological species in bird-and-flower paintings from the Song (960-1276) through Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. Most paintings have generic titles like Birds and Bamboo; however, the specific avian and botanical species can be named by using modern ornithological classifications. By classifying the animals and plants, we will generate data that can answer several types of questions.

Some Research Questions

1. History of Science in China: How did natural history develop in China and what role did artists play in the observation and classification of species?

2. Biological and Environmental Sciences:Can we identify any extinct bird species or learn about bird habitats in historical contexts?

3. History: What can we learn about intersections between art, science, and society?

4. Art History: Can we uncover patterns of motifs that could be specific metaphors or visual puns?