Vast archives of history, art and religion sculpted into the mountains of China, will be deciphered in a series of free public lectures at the University of Cambridge.

Professor Robert E. Harrist will uncover how this art has transformed China’s mountain ranges into a spiritual landscape, steeped in political, religious, and artistic significance. The 8 public talks are hosted by the Department of History of Art as part of their yearly Slade Lecture series.

Mountains dominate the physical and the cultural geography of China. Their slopes are emblazoned with writing, monumental inscriptions cut directly into the surfaces of boulders and cliffs.

Written in a wide range of scripts and painted in bright colors, these carved texts include accounts of legendary and historical events, Buddhist scriptures, and imperial decrees; they also display names of people, poems, travel essays, and patriotic slogans.

The mountain inscriptions are of great historical importance as annals of Chinese history, and are revered as masterpieces of calligraphy - the most highly valued of all the arts in China.

Interpreting the inscribed landscapes can help uncover many aspects of Chinese art and culture, including the unique way gardens and landscape paintings are displayed in Chinese art.

Professor Harrist is Professor of Chinese Art History at Columbia University, and is this year’s visiting Slade Professor in Fine Art.

The Slade Lectures originated in 1869, when an endowment from English art collector and philanthropist Felix Slade established a Chair in Fine Art, the post-holder to deliver an annual series of public lectures. Since 1960 a visiting expert in fine arts has been elected to the Slade professorship each year.

Professor Harrist has published numerous books on Chinese painting, calligraphy, gardens, and fashion. His most recent book, The Landscape of Words: Stone Inscriptions from Early and Medieval China will appear later this year.

The Slade Lectures will take place every Tuesday at 5.00pm, from Jan 23 - Mar 13 at the Mill Lane Lecture Rooms. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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