SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Jan. 16,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Great Wall
New Media -- The Silk Road is an important bridge for the exchange
and mutual understanding between the civilizations of the East and
the West, leaving a rich artistic heritage along the route. 'Study
of Grapevine Ornament on the Silk Road', published by the People's
Publishing House and written by Professor Chang Ying, weaves a cultural ribbon from the
Mediterranean Sea to China through
the specific and special ornament of 'grapevine'. The impressive
chapter exploring the naturalistic style of grapevine decoration in
the Roman period is one of the most innovative scholarly
perspectives on Roman decoration available.
The book's discussion of the Roman grapevine ornament mainly
focuses on two points, one is the connotation of meaning, and the
other is the form and style. In terms of connotation, grapevine in
the Roman funeral culture has a special meaning, symbolizing
abundance, continuity of life and rebirth and protection associated
with Dionysus, the god of wine, and these deeper meanings make
grape vines popular in funeral and ritual objects.
In terms of form, the book provides a compendium of Roman
naturalistic botanical ornamentation represented by grape leaves.
It proposes that naturalistic decoration originates from the change
of craft technology, and different crafts are good at expressing
different decorative styles. And the naturalistic decorative form
of a vivid and interesting expression: 'the craftsmen of the time
to nature as a teacher, they found that, want to express the
natural sense of leaf ornament, not only as far as possible to
carve out the details, but also to show the leaves out of the
surface of the undulation of the sense of the leaf, such as the
leaf after the absorption of water, and then by the sun exposed to
the irregular curvature of the presentation.' In addition, the book
also shows the application of the grapevines in crafts made of
different materials, such as pottery, metal ware, stone carving,
etc. It analyses the grapevines in depth from the dimensions of
craft technology, cultural symbols, artistic style, etc., and
reveals the diversity and complexity of the vine ornaments in
different historical periods and cultural backgrounds, which
enriches and deepens the cognition of the characteristics and
evolution of Roman decorative arts.
The book places the study of the Roman vine motifs in a broader
context of cultural exchange, focusing not only on Rome itself, but also on cultural interchange
in the Levant, Etruria, North
Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and other regions. Through
the cross-cultural comparative study of the grapevine pattern, it
provides new contents and perspectives for the study of Roman art,
and provides empirical materials for an in-depth discussion of
ancient cultural exchanges.
In conclusion, the book 'Study of Grapevine Ornament on the Silk
Road' reveals the exchange between ancient Eurasian civilizations
through specific examples. It helps to enhance the mutual
understanding and recognition between different cultures, lays the
foundation of 'common memory' for the cultural exchange and
cooperation on the Silk Road, and provides academic support for the
promotion of cultural cooperation among countries along the Silk
Road.
(By Yang Jie, Professor at
Communication University of China)
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