Ireland and China. Textile from Mashan (fifth to third Century BC, China) and the Celtic Repertoire of Ornamentation

Abstract

In a short article the author presents the hypothesis that certain aspects of Celtic Art has Chinese origin. She compares the decoration of textiles found in 1982 in Mashane, province of Hupei in China with the Celtic system of ornamentation, known from books illumination, sculptures of Celtic crosses and metal products. Among the motifs known to Celtic art she indicates: skulls, tête coupe, pelts, spirals and triskeles. The author also indicates the similarities in the field of color symbolism, animal symbolism (crane), the special role of women and femininity, and Nature (on the basis of philosophy and poetry) in both cultures.