Art

Chinese art has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China Certain art forms like calligraphy have required specialized training and careful practice, a leisure that could only be afforded by the select few in the nobility. Others like sculpture, pottery, architecture, and jewelry have been a professional domain as well as a leisure activity.

Calligraphy Calligraphy is of the highest forms of Chinese art. It is estimated that calligraphy may be 4,600 years old (thought this has not been proven). Around the Tang Dynasty, people began to use calligraphy as a means to gain positions of government officers and be recognized by the judges in the civil service. The quality of ones calligraphy was thought to provide insight into one’s moral character.

SONG DYNASTY ( )

MING DYNASTY ( )

Shang Dynasty ( BC) Learned how to make bronze out of copper and tin and used this to make their art.

Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) Two big changes in art: –People converted to Buddhism –Invention of paper

Song Dynasty ( ) Began to see an increase in landscape and portrait painting.

Ming Dynasty ( ) Sculpture stopped changing in style and just repeated what had been done in the past. Paintings of birds, flowers, and people from this time period are among the most detailed paintings.

Qing Dynasty ( ) A culmination of all art styles that have been developed during the past 2500 years.

Modern Chinese Art