Chinese Arts

Arts in China

Art in China dates back to the Stone Age when people demonstrated an interest for arts. Then it used to simply consist of sculptures and pottery. Following the stone period, the Chinese history and the Chinese art came to be under the considerable influence of the different ruling dynasties of China that came into power one by one. Each of these dynasties were pretty much different from the others and lasted for a few hundred years. They came to exhibit different forms of influences on the Chinese arts and culture.

The first major form of art to prevail in China was that of Neolithic pottery which was found in the Yangshao culture. It was about 2,600 years old and archeological evacuations have revealed that pottery, unpainted ceramics and images of humans and fishes were used during this period. The next significant art to flourish in China was the Jade culture which lasted about thirteen hundred years. The art in this era grew to include Yue axes, bi discs, plates and representation of animals such as turtles, fish and birds. After the Jade culture came the Bronze casting which commenced with the Xia Dynasty. Vessels made of bronze were made during this period. The period of Bronze casting was followed by Chu and Southern Culture. This culture was found in the Yangtze River valley. It was one of the developing stages of arts in China when wooden sculptures, musical instruments, and finely painted paintings were made (Bushell, et.al, 1924).

One of the first major arts to flourish was during the era of Early Imperial China that began about 2,200 years ago and lasted for 440 years. Tombs of emperors were built with objects resembling warriors and horses. The most significant period during this time was the Han Dynasty in which ...