Supervisors: Cao Jinyan, Duan Kai, Guo Liyuan, Peng Yu
This program focuses on the study of excavated manuscripts and early Chinese writing systems through textual interpretation, philological analysis, and character identification, while incorporating the latest developments in archaeology and related disciplines. It explores the material and intellectual civilizations of ancient China through interdisciplinary research on Chinese character theory, palaeography, the cultural and artistic dimensions of Chinese characters, and their contemporary applications. The programme encourages students to develop new approaches to understanding Chinese art and visual culture within the broader framework of East Asian and Oriental studies, while fostering innovative scholarship that contributes to the preservation and reinterpretation of China’s rich cultural heritage.
2. Art History and Museum Studies
Supervisors: Bi Fei, Dr. Clarissa von Spee (Germany), Dr. Tsai Suey-Ling (Germany)
This program provides rigorous training in art history and the humanities, equipping students with a solid foundation in historical inquiry, visual analysis, and critical research methods. It engages with both Chinese and global art histories, with particular attention to emerging scholarship and current developments in the field. Emphasizing the interpretation of artworks and historical documents within their cultural and historical contexts, the programme combines academic study with hands-on experience in museums and art galleries. Students are encouraged to develop curatorial perspectives and exhibition practices that foster meaningful dialogue between artworks and their audiences.
3. Chinese Buddhist Art
Supervisors: Wang Lin, Hida Michiyoshi (Japan)
This program adopts a dual approach that integrates textual sources and visual materials, emphasizing rigorous training in art historical research. Particular attention is given to the study of extant Chinese Buddhist images and the internal mechanisms of Buddhist belief, while also examining the relationship between Buddhist art and secular society. Students are expected to develop a solid foundation in art history, Buddhist history, social history, and the history of cultural exchange, and to engage with the latest scholarship in Chinese Buddhist art from an international academic perspective. The programme encourages in-depth fieldwork based on surviving artworks, monuments, and archaeological sites. In addition to a master’s thesis, students are required to complete fieldwork reports, reading reports, and visual presentations closely related to their research projects.
4. Indian Classical Philosophy and Chinese Art Theory
Supervisor: Zhu Wenxin (Wenzhong)
This program is an integral part of the China Academy of Art’s interdisciplinary initiative in Eastern Art Studies. It recognizes the study of Indian classical thought as essential to understanding the intellectual traditions and theoretical foundations of Eastern art. By examining the historical development of Indian philosophical traditions and their relationship with Chinese art theory, the programme explores both the shared characteristics and distinctive features of the two intellectual traditions. It encourages students to engage critically with classical scholarship while fostering original research that contributes to the development of contemporary Eastern art studies. Through comparative inquiry, the programme also seeks to situate Chinese scholarship within the broader context of global intellectual and cultural discourse. In this spirit, as the poet Xu Fancheng once wrote: “In that place where the Tang heavens were never mended, we search for the precious orchids and cultivate them in turn.” — a reminder that the work of cultural transmission and renewal begins where earlier traditions left off.
5. Studies in Artistic Creation
Supervisors: Shi Jiong, Cao Yiqiang
This program examines the mechanisms of artistic creation within the framework of art history, encompassing art theory, art criticism, artistic techniques, art appreciation, artistic media, and the analysis of canonical works. It emphasizes a critical understanding of the internal processes of artistic creation through the systematic study of Chinese and international painting theories and artists’ reflections on creative practice. Building on these traditions, the programme investigates methodologies of artistic creation, expands the theoretical foundations of artistic practice and research, and explores the internal and external factors that shape the making of significant works of art. It also provides a solid basis for further inquiry into the social, cultural, intellectual, and psychological dimensions of artistic creation.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate both practical artistic skills and a strong interest in theoretical research. Graduation requirements include the submission of a master’s thesis focused on issues related to artistic creation, accompanied by a portfolio of original works in the student’s chosen medium.
6. Direction: Jiangnan and the Social History of Art
Supervisors: Zhang Shengman
The Jiangnan and the Social History of Art program integrates two closely related yet distinct fields: Jiangnan Studies and the Social History of Art. Jiangnan Studies offers a comprehensive exploration of the Jiangnan region through cultural, political, social, and economic perspectives. With decades of sustained scholarship by researchers both in China and internationally, it has become a leading model for regional studies. The Social History of Art, emerging from the interdisciplinary dialogue between art history and sociology, examines art as its primary subject, society as its interpretive framework, and historical inquiry as its methodological foundation. It investigates the origins, transformation, and circulation of artistic practices within broader social and cultural contexts, illuminating the dynamic relationship between art and society. Building upon these complementary perspectives, this research direction combines close investigation of Jiangnan’s distinctive regional characteristics with broader theoretical inquiry, advancing both micro-level case studies and expansive academic explorations of art beyond geographical boundaries.
