Art

    The interconnection of Byzantine art and the Eastern culture of Asia particularly China and India paved way for the enrichment culture as well as the sharing of technologies. The immersion of Byzantine culture into Eastern Asia culture took place primarily due to the journey and expansion of the Empire taking place which coincides with the advancement and development of external trade relations by China and India. Since India and China were advanced civilizations in Asia, they were also part of the reason why Byzantine art showcases Eastern Asian touch (Bassett 2004). China and India were in constant trade arrangements and religious connections and thus when the expanding empires came through these regions they accepted trades and learned part of each regions culture.

    The specific art type that shows an interconnection of Byzantine and Eastern Asia works of art would be the mosaic. Mosaic have high cultural significance due to the fact that they can be found on many historic sites and resemble figures of religious perspectives as well as the ruling class. Byzantine art primarily uses mosaic to portray religion, kingship and the theme of power. Similarities of Byzantine art and Eastern Asian art include primary materials used, harmony in relation to nature, and the heavy use of symbolism (Dark et al. 2002). An example of mosaic art that shows similarities between Byzantine mosaic and Eastern Asian mosaic is Ravennian Mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian and Bishop Maximian. This particular mosaic art shows the unifying theme of power in art and the regard for the ruling class which can also be seen in Chinese and Indian art. On the other hand, the difference between Eastern Asian and Byzantine art would be ways o how these mosaic art products were used (Bassett 2004). In Eastern Asia, mosaic art can be seen in pottery, glassware, floors, walls and other ordinary items that can be used or seen in the daily life of an Asian.

In Byzantine, mosaic art was limited to walls, ceilings, sculptures and figures of grandeur and power.
Essentially, Mosaic, as an art is a way of creating an image through the use of small pieces of material which are glued and assembled together to form one image. Materials for mosaic would include glass, metals, stones and wood. Mosaic art was done primarily using a direct method of applying the bits and pieces while forming them to create one unifying representation (Evans 2004).
Byzantine art is mostly portrayed by mosaic art. The style of Byzantine echoes in mosaic through the use of images of empire related themes and also religion. Indian and Chinese art related to this by providing a connection which gives more attention to details and the immersion of symbolic ideas within the theme of power and religion. Another example of Byzantine art that showcases this connection to Eastern Asia would the mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. Although Christian, China and India also prioritize their religious life in their art by making it a continuous theme of images throughout one group of art works. These direct portrayals of high regard for religion translates into Byzantine art. Overall, the substitution of a Christian religion to the themes of Eastern Asian art highlights the significant connection of Byzantine art. Artists in Byzantine took the idea and concept of Eastern Asian art and molded into a specialized style in their own country.