AND SINHALESE ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY.) (X.) China.—Temperamentally, the Chinese, especially the highly educated, are not much given to organization (see CHINA, Aesthetic Development). Consequently in history we hear very little of artistic activity in any organized sense.
The National University of Peking is almost solely responsible for both the moral and intellectual forces now at work in the whole of China. The university faculty is undoubtedly the greatest literary and art society that China has ever known. There are, however, three or four literary and art groups that are perhaps better organized than the faculty group. The Literary Society of China, whose motto is "Art for Life's Sake," has found opposition in another group known as the Creation Society, who started the "art for art" movement in China. A serious effort at regenerating the Chinese culture is represented by another group, The Crescent Moon Society, which was organized in Peking in 1923. Among other things in art, it has produced plays by Ibsen, Shaw, Maeterlinck, Tagore and Eugene O'Neill, as well as the Chinese writers. The Nan-Kuo group may be de scribed as representing the Bohemian spirit of young China.
There are innumerable art clubs and societies both in Peking and Shanghai and other cities. The most notable one is the "Pegasus Society" of Shanghai, which has a large membership of artists of the traditional type as well as returned students of art from Western countries. It holds annual exhibitions. The Royal Asiatic Society, North China Branch, Shanghai (1857), has 604 members, possesses a library and museum, publishes a journal and has issued five volumes. (See CHINESE ART.) (T. Hs.; Y. K.) Korea.—The art of Korea, like that of her great neighbour, China, has always been the product of the leisured class. When Korea's civilization was at its height during the Korai period (ioth-14th centuries), literary groups and art societies centered their efforts around Buddhistic culture. The artistic activities of the Buddhists have been carried on in mountain solitudes since the monks were compelled to take refuge there in the 15th cen tury. In 1909, the Chosen Yunkoo Society was established for the purpose of excavating ancient monuments and gathering old prints and fine examples of calligraphy. With the support of the Chosen Government, it has collected about 150,000 prints and specimens. In 1909-15 the members of the Chosen Yunkoo Society made an investigation of the historical monuments. The Korean Art Society was founded in 1922 also under the super vision of the Chosen Government, holding the annual exhibition in Seoul. The Chosen Moondan Society was founded in 1924 in Seoul to spread the doctrine of "Art for Life's Sake," and when it discontinued, the Kaipyuk took its place; it now represents the Bohemian spirit of young Korea. Kwang Chang Hoi is a society
of artists in Western style, holding annual exhibitions. The Suwha Yunkoo Hoi, another society in traditional style, to stimulate calligraphers and painters, develops its work through the Four Sages : the plum, lily, chrysanthemum and bamboo.
There are many private societies. (Y. K.) Japan.—The Japanese are clever in adapting other civilizations to suit their own tastes and needs. This is particularly true in the realm of art, and its various societies. When Buddhism came from Korea in the 6th century, Chinese ideographs and calligraphy, which included painting, were introduced. Ever since, the Japanese have had art groups, schools or societies— such as the Yamato and Toza of the Ilth century, Kano, founded by Kano Monotobu ; Ukiyoye, by Iwasa Matahei (1577-165o) ; Korin, following the style of Koyetsu (1552– 1637) ; and Shijo, imitating the naturalistic school of Okyo (1733-95) . (See also JAPANESE PAINTING AND PRINTS.) The Imperial Art Institute (Teikoku Bijutsu-In), Tokyo, be gun under the auspices of the Department of Education in 1907, was modified in 1919, and in 1927 a section of applied arts was added to those of painting and sculpture ; exhibitions are held. The National Treasure Preservation Commission (1897) ex amines treasures in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and schedules for State protection paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, buildings, old documents of historical value, armour and weapons, and examples of handicraft. The Fine Arts Association of Japan (Nihon Bijutsu Kyokai), Tokyo, was established in 1879 to stimulate art. It arranged a Japanese art exhibition in Paris in 1883. It has over i,000 members, has always adhered to the old ideals of Japanese art and holds exhibitions. The Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsu-In), Tokyo, 1897, conducts a studio, with classes in painting in the traditional style, and in sculpture. Nika-Kai, Tokyo, an association of painters in Western style, was organized in 1908 in defiance of the "classical narrow ness" of the annual art exhibition then held under the Department of Education. Besides these mentioned above, Tokyo has many other important societies.
Kyoto has a number of societies of art, such as the Fine Arts Association (Kyoto Bijutsu Kyokai), Creative National Painting Association (Kokuga Sosaku Kyokai), Institute of Painters of the Southern School (Nihon Nanga-In).
Osaka has the Art Association of the city of Osaka (Osakash: Bijutsu Kyokai) and the Osaka Art Club (Osaka Bijutsu Kurabu). (J. HAR.; Y. K.) SOCIETY ISLANDS : see PACIFIC ISLANDS.