Pacific Asia Museum

Past Exhibition

Confucius:
Shaping Values Through Art

September 17, 2008 - January 11, 2009

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The Four Sons of Filial Piety (detail), China, late 19th century,
Hanging of silk, satin, and metallic threads,
Pacific Asia Museum Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Johansing,
1991.17.2, Photo by Julian Bermudez

View this page in Chinese 中文

At a time when interest in China and its rich culture is increasing internationally, China’s interest in its own history and traditions has also been growing. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, the Chinese have been looking to their past as they plan for their future.

Most notably, the Chinese have been showing a renewed interest in the teachings of Confucius, a philosopher, teacher and political thinker, who lived 2,500 years ago.

Confucius: Shaping Values Through Art explores how Confucian values have permeated East Asian culture. It utilizes the Museum’s own collection as a case study.

The exhibition will include Chinese ink rubbings, folk paintings, and copies of the classic, The Analects (a text containing teachings attributed to Confucius). Other objects include Chinese silk embroideries and Japanese woodblock prints related to the ritual of honoring the ancestors, an important concept in Confucian ideology.

Meher McArthur
Guest Curator

This exhibition is made possible by The James Irvine Foundation, Carolyn Hsu Balcer and René Balcer, and Dr. George W. Housner

Related Events

In addition to the exhibition, the museum is hosting a series of public programs and events surrounding Confucian ideas and philosophies. As part of the museum’s new Chinese Community outreach Initiative, members of the Chinese community worked with Pacific Asia Museum’s Chinese Arts Council and new outreach Coordinator in developing a variety of programs catered to educate, delight and inspire the public.

All events are free with admission; call 626-449-2742 ext. 31 to RSVP.

September 17–30
FREE TEACHER ADMISSION
Pacific Asia Museum is honoring teachers in celebration of Confucius’s Birthday.
September 27, 1pm
Curator’s Tour with Meher McArthur

The Rising Tide

October 3, 8pm
Film
At the center of the world’s attention, China has arguably the most vital, imaginative, and uncontainable art scene. The Rising Tide investigates China’s meteoric march toward the future through emerging artists
whose work captures the social and aesthetic confusion of a rapidly changing society. Live introduction by director robert Adanto.
October 4, 10:30am
Silk Road Story Time
Gather in the travelers’ tent to hear stories from China, the home of Confucius.
October 12, 1pm
“Confucianism in California: Philosophy and Religion, the Secular as Sacred”
Dr. Jonathan H.x. Lee will discuss the role of Confucianism in Chinese immigrant communities historically and today, as well as its current revival
in China.
November 1, 10:30am
Silk Road Story Time
Gather in the travelers’ tent to hear stories from China, the home of Confucius.
November 1, 2pm
“Christianity and Confucian Values in Korea”
with Jonghun Joo of fuller seminary.

November 2, 2pm
“Ancestors and Art”
Open-house demo & display of Chinese and Latino cultures and arts; learn about ancestor altars and enjoy amazing paper-cutting folk arts!
November 9, 2pm
Lecture/Demo
Appreciate the art of Chinese calligraphy, its different styles, and how it is practiced with Dr. Hung-hsiang Chou of UCLA.
December 6, 10:30am
Silk Road Story Time
Gather in the travelers’ tent to hear stories from China, the home of Confucius.
December 6, 2–4pm
“Confucius in Modern Asia”
Confucian scholars, including Dr. David Schaberg, Dr. Robin Wang and Dr. Samuel Yamashita, come together for a panel discussion, then break into small group discussions with the audience.
January 10, 2009, 2–4pm
“Confucian Values in Professional and Personal Life”
Community leaders discuss the role of Confucianism in daily life, then join in small group discussions with the audience.