In studies of the visual arts of China, themes of auspicious tidings or events have dominated art historical research; such inauspicious topics as epidemics and disasters have rarely been the focus. The outbreak of COVID-19, however, brought sudden awareness to these overlooked topics such that scholars are now looking at historical sources for evidence of records of earlier epidemics and disasters. This talk identifies depictions of diverse ways that people handled these topics, and explains how throughout time China’s people used social, cultural, and increasingly scientific practices to ward off disease. In doing so, this project brings old topics into new focus for China’s cultural and visual history.

Junping Liu is a UC Davis Visiting Scholar at the Department of Art and Art History and a Professor of Art History at the School of Art & Design, University of Emergency Management.