Artist Hwang Samyong discusses his artwork Pebbles, which will be on view at the Asian Art Museum as part of the exhibition Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware from Korea. 

An introduction to Korean Confucianism and related architecture.

Students will: 1.) examine the Hindu tradition of pookolam—a three-dimensional threshold art using flowers; 2.) research the harvest festival of Onam celebrated in the southwestern state of Kerala, India; 3.) create an auspicious flower decoration in celebration of Onam

Andrea Horbinski of the UC Berkeley History–Social Science Project, gives a talk to teachers at the Japan Teacher Institute at the Asian Art Museum on Japanese history, folktales, anime, and more.

A True Picture of the Steamship Powhatan; A Ship Generally Called a Steam Frigate..., from the Black Ship Scroll, Edo period (1615-1868); approx. 1854. Japan. Handscroll segment mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper. Museum purchase with assistance from the Japan Society of Northern California, 2012.60.2.

In Chinese brushpainting, the artist can achieve a multitude of effects by varying such factors as the speed and pressure applied to a brush, the size and type of brush, the amount of moisture, the manner in which different shades of ink or colors are loaded onto the brush, the angle at which the brush is held, and the type of paper or silk used for painting.These examples, drawn from the museum’s collection, represent some of the more common techniques.

A woman disguised as a man holding a parrot, 618–906. China; Shaanxi province. Glazed low-fired ceramic. The Avery Brundage Collection, B65P52.

Students will use map resources to label a map of Afghanistan with its current bordering countries, current key cities, and ancient sites/cities: Students will learn the geographical placement of Afghanistan in Asia and its neighboring countries. This knowledge will bring a heightened awareness of the influence and exchange among nearby countries with Afghanistan—culturally, politically, and militarily. They will also become familiar with the names of ancient sites and their location in present-day Afghanistan. 

America: Depiction of an American Ship and Portraits of the First Ambassador Perry and the Deputy Ambassador Adams, by, Shinsei (Japanese, 1850's), 1854. Ink and colors on paper. Bequest of Marshall Dill, F2001.23.1.

Amir Hamzah, uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, spreader of Islam, and hero of the Serat Menak, by dalang Otong Rasta. Indonesia; Bandung, West Java. Wood, cloth, and mixed media. From the Mimi and John Herbert Collection, F2000.86.62.

We will refer to Ancient China as the time between the Neolithic period (ca. 6,000‒ ca. 1750 BCE) and the Han dynasty (206 BCE‒ 220 CE), which is roughly equivalent to the period of the Roman Empire in the West. This is the formative stage of Chinese civilization. During this time, what we now call China developed from a collection of isolated cultural communities to a set of organized states which eventually coalesced around the idea of a single unified state, and then expanded to include contact with other civilizations.

Buddhism has deeply influenced the character and evolution of Asian civilization over the past 2,500 years. It is based on the teachings of a historical figure, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around the fifth century BCE. As it moved across Asia, Buddhism absorbed indigenous beliefs and incorporated a wide range of imagery, both local and foreign, into its art and religious practices. Buddhism continues to evolve as a religion in many parts of the world.

Experience for yourself the art of brush-and-ink painting. Begin by learning how to hold the brush. Once you feel comfortable, experiment by applying varying degrees of pressure, speed, and moisture. Finally, create your own brushpainting masterpiece.

All Chinese characters are made up of a number of strokes. These strokes are painted in a prescribed order, depending on the script. Generally, strokes move from top to bottom and from left to right.

Professor Robert Sharf, University of California, Berkeley, discusses Japanese Buddhism at the Medieval Japan Teacher Institute at the Asian Art Museum. 

Buddhism became the official religion of one of Korea's early kingdoms in 372, after a priest arrived from China with Buddhist images and scriptures. From the time of its introduction it had the enthusiastic support of the rulers and the aristocracy. By the middle of the 500s, Buddhism had been officially accepted by all three kingdoms that reigned in Korea at that time.

Learn about the geography of Bali.

What are often thought of as “Indian” art and culture spread not only throughout the modern nation of India but also through Pakistan and Bangladesh. This huge area was never politically unified except under British colonial rule (1858–1947). Learn more.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain ranges in the world, and from them flow the major rivers of Asia. Learn more.

The Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) of Korea was a period of intense religious fervor. Its people—from the rulers to their lowest subjects—were ardent believers in Buddhism.

Learn more about the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) of Korea.

The region bordering the Yellow River, which runs more than 3,400 miles from the Himalayan Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, has long been considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. These vast, fertile plains encouraged the rise of agriculture and the development of neolithic cultures (New Stone Age, roughly 6000-2000 BCE). Archeological discoveries made over the past few decades have revealed that early societies also flourished to the south, along the Yangzi River, as well as sites in the far northeast. These finds indicate that Chinese civilization arose through the gradual blending of several regional cultures.

A brief introduction to the Qu'ran. Includes audio by Qamar Adamjee, Malavalli Family Foundation Associate Curator of Art of the Indian Subcontinent.

An overview of the Japanese warrior class known as the samurai.

A date around 1050 BCE is generally accepted as the date of the defeat of the Shang dynasty (approx. 1500 to 1050 BCE) by Wen Wang and the establishment of the Zhou. The Zhou is divided into Western and Eastern stages, with 771 BCE a critical year, when the Zhou court moved east to Luoyang.

Certain motifs appear with great regularity as surface decorations of vessels of the early Bronze Age in China (approx. 2000-1750 BCE to 500 BCE). Many of these designs consist of composite or wholly imaginary animals.

Archaeology is the study of the material remains of humanity’s past. Excavated materials, along with other historical objects and text records, form the primary source material on Ancient China.

Refined Character Type: Arjuna, third of the Pandava (Pandawa) brothers, approx. 1950. Indonesia; West Java. Wood, cloth, and mixed media. From The Mimi and John Herbert Collection, F2000.86.115.

Arrival of a Portuguese ship, one of a pair (Nanban screens), Six panel folding screen, 1620-1640. Japan. Ink, colors, and gold on paper, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60D77+.

The Art/Lit Living Innovation Zone is a new work of public sculpture developed as part of the Living Innovation Zone (LIZ) program. The installation was designed by a team of youth in the Architecture Program at Youth Art Exchange, who were inspired by dragons—a mythological creature found in the art and literature of many different cultures and time periods. Their dragon is decorated with a myriad of patterns found on artwork in the collections of the Asian Art Museum. Over the next two years, the intended life of the project, the sculpture and area around it will be programmed with activities, decorated with new murals, and celebrated with art openings.

Xu Bing is renowned for his artistic explorations of the role of language in human life.

Learn about the Japanese artist Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige (1797–1858).

A behind-the-scenes look at art conservation at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. This video also includes brief information about Southeast Asian arts and about the collection of the late Doris Duke.

Master Chinese calligrapher Cai Xingyi writes the poem Ascending the Heron Tower by Poet Wang Zhihuan (688-742) in cursive script. See more in the exhibition, Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (on view at the Asian Art Museum from Oct. 5, 2012–Jan. 13, 2013).

Audio tour for The demon Maricha tries to Dissuade Ravana, approx. 1780

The Barong is a protective deity that can take on a variety of animal forms—lions, tigers, and boars are some of the more common images—land each one is addressed using a respectful title such as Great God or Great Lord.  Many villages, especially in southern Bali, have their own Barong figure. The Barong mask is kept in a shrine within a temple and brought out for use. The Barong is one of the most prominent images seen in the performing arts of Bali. This video features the Calonarang, a dance drama intended to chase away evil and purify a village. 

Observe the time, love and labor that goes into the costumes and makeup required in one of the most important traditional Balinese dances, the condong ("divine nymph"). See examples of other Balinese customary ritual clothing and learn how to outfit yourself in a sarong and sash. Dancers will perform a segment of the majestic condong in their full regalia.

This video features examples of different types of Balinese dance, costumes, and music. Bali: Art, Ritual Performance was on view at the Asian Art Museum from February 25–September 11, 2011.

Regarded as one of the fastest guitarist in Indonesia, I Wayan Balawan appears in a special concert performing his signature blend of traditional Balinese music with jazz. Well-known for his ability to play a double-neck guitar and his development of the touch-tapping technique, Balawan has released three albums and tours all over the world.

This video depicts two members of the Ubud royal family being carried on palanquins in a cremation procession. Being transported aloft like this proclaims the status of a ruler and reflects the tradition of transporting god images on smaller palanquins, like one located in the last gallery of this exhibition. The palanquin on view in the Bali exhibition at the Asian Art Museum features three elaborately painted panels depicting Arjuna, one of the heroes of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In the story, a demon threatens heaven and the Hindu god Indra seeks Arjuna's help. The back panel shows Arjuna, seated in the center, proving his worthiness by resisting the celestial maidens sent by Indra to distract him from his meditation.

Watch Javanese artisans make batik and learn more about their refined techniques. Many places in the world pattern textiles by applying wax to protect certain areas from dye. During the dye process, the wax areas resist the dye, and when the wax is removed a pattern emerges. Both the technique and the textile produced are called batik. Nowhere in the world is this method of patterning textiles as highly refined as in Indonesia.

Battle scene from the epic Mahabharata (The Great Chronicle of the Bharata Dynasty), 1875–1900. Indonesia; Kamasan, Bali. Ink and colors on cotton. Gift of Dr. Stephen A. Sherwin and Merrill Randol Sherwin, 2004.96.

Beauty under the cherries at Ryodaishi Hall, probably Ando Hiroshige III (Japanese, 1843-1894), approx. 1870-1894. Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper. Gift of Jim Myers, 2006.36.

A peek behind the scenes of the Asian Art Museum Art Speak interns' video project on identity and place.

Discover what it looks like behind the screen in this shadow theater demonstration by Larry Reed of ShadowLight Productions.

Members of the Bay Area Indian community describe the context of Buddhist arts in South Asia. Included are clips of temples, festivals, and worship at various sites in India. Part two of a two part series.

Learn about the basic beliefs of Hinduism.

Part one of the introductory film about the special exhibition, The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan on view at the Asian Art Museum fron February 20–May 10, 2009. Film and exhibition produced by the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Bird-headed ewer. China; Henan or Shaanxi province; Tang dynasty (618–906). Glazed earthenware. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P214.

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chinese: Guanyin). China; Tang dynasty (618–906). Gilt bronze. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60B795.

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, approx. 900–1000. India; perhaps Nalanda, Bihar state. Stone. The Avery Brundage Collection, B63S44+.

Bön, Tibet’s indigenous belief system, is a high form of religious ritualism primarily concerned with righting the causes of human ailment and misfortune and coexisting with the underlying forces of the universe. It focuses on the living, but has a clear sense of an afterlife and seeks to bring benefits and hap- piness in both this world and the world to come. 

In all lacquer objects, regardless of when they were produced, a resinous sap coating preserves the core material and allows for decoration. The material for lacquering is extracted from lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum; formerly Rhus verniciflua), which is the same genus as poison oak. Learn more in this award winning documentary on Japanese lacquer. 

Bottle Gourds, 1930–1957, by Qi Baishi (1863-1957). Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper. The Avery Brundage Collection, B69D15.

Bowl with brown mottling, approx. 1100–1279. Song dynasty (960–1279), approx. 1100–1279. China; Jiangxi province. Jizhou ware; glazed high fired ceramic. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1452.