Saint Paul Institute
Reflection Paper
English Literature
Chapter5: Glimpses of Asian Arts
2013
When it comes to ‘Asian arts’, at first, it mostly came to me like things related to certain ‘country (or
nation)’ such as Indian arts and Chinese arts and also I didn’t think that much about what arts spaces I have
been engaged in so far. According to the textbook titled Introduction to Humanities by Dr. Sam-Ang Sam,
Prof. Andy Ahmed, Chim Phorst, Heg Sreang; in chapter five of the book it talks about Glimpses of Asian
Arts that defined where art come from and how it related.
In chapter 5 I have learnt a lot. First, the pre-colonial art in the Philippines (the epics and music), literature
during the Pre-hispanic Period is oral in tradition and is related to rituals and social gatherings including the
epics and music. Second, Art in Seventeenth Century, the propagation of the Catholic Faith made use of
religious paintings, engravings, sculpture, devotional hymns and verses that leaded to have the visual arts in
19th century and then Architecture. Next, I have studied about Chinese Art, in this point focuses on Painting
and Architecture that permeated with Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianist tendency, practical and
moralistic, and the Taoist tendency, contemplative and mystical. Further, I have read about Japanese Art that
talks about Architecture, Theater and The Hakone Open-air Museum. I remember that the main characteristic
of Japanese architecture is the intimated relationship between the building and its natural setting, the principle
forms of the Japanese theater are the Noh and the Kabuki, and the Hakone Open-air Museum which in May,
Japan offers a wide variety of attractions to the tourists marvelous scenic spots, displaying the loveliness of
springtime, called Beautiful Golden Week presentations showing an authenticity of details. Furthermore,
Indian Art is another main point of Asian Art. Ancient Indian civilization had its origin in about 5,000 B.C. B.
Bronze, Copper statuettes, steatite seals, and miniatures portraying intaglios bulls, elephants, other ceremonial
animals, as well as deities. There are two famous epics are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The last point
I have read about Asian Music. In this point, I see that Asian Music differs from the West and are shown
about Asian qualities in music heard among the ethnic minorities in Mindanao, in Sulu, in Zambales, in
Mindoro, and in Oalawan and in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Before reading this chapter, I had a little knowledge about Asian Art and never want to know other art beside
Khmer art too. Just know that Khmer art is the art that have many characteristics and traditional for
Cambodian. Event, I have some doubts but I think it’s not important thing to worry.
Introduction to Humanities
Page 1
Instructor: Soeung Sopha
Student: Kim Sovann
Saint Paul Institute
Reflection Paper
English Literature
Chapter5: Glimpses of Asian Arts
2013
While reading the chapter, I know that it is the wonderful thing which Asian people created. According to my
knowledge before reading, there are some point similar and some different. Also I had got some doubts while
reading such as why people create the art, where it from and how it related and how differences between the
art from one region or countries to other too. Just the further I have read the chapter titled Glimpses of Asian
Arts the more I have reduced my doubts. Overall, Art in Asian just similar to the Art in the other continent, it
start from cultures and entertainments. It’s different from one country to other country and it’s so far different
between continents. I dare to say that so many people in the world still have some problem as what I talk
above. I believe it is important to get awareness of the relationships among art, history, power, identity, and Art
space so as to get better understanding Art space I have mentioned so far.
After I have finished the chapter, I get more and more knowledge all of that very important to understand
briefly about Asian Art. The chapter is short and easy to make the reader comprehend. I see it is so interesting
for me; I attach with it, the more I read the more I comprehend and the more it make me obsess, just of that I
could not stop to do other thing before I have finished the chapter. The Chapter was written in a short text that
facilitates in reading and gives the main point to me in a few hours. Especially, the way that the researchers
comply really interested. They found documents and edited it in simple way not complex make the chapter
appears in wonderful shape.
In summing up, all points in the chapter that have been talked make me understand a lot and can express the
concepts that I get from the lesion. I also hope that after finishing this lesion, it provides me the
encouragement in order to dare to express my ideas in the public. I think the points that I have learnt will be
useful for me in the future. In addition, I hope I will use these concepts in the official conditions. Nevertheless,
I have learnt and gained knowledge from this lesion, I think it is not enough for me to use it as an official,
particularly about histories and tradition art. I must read and learn more in order to improve my knowledge
and to achieve in the future. Therefore, reading and making reflection encourage me to learn and understand
so much from the lesson. At this mean time, I would like to thank to the instructor that assigned me such a
useful task in the purpose to develop my general knowledge.
Introduction to Humanities
Page 2
Instructor: Soeung Sopha
Student: Kim Sovann