These seven art forms are at the core of Chinese art history.
Extracted from metamorphic rocks, this luminous green mineral was used to create a range of objects.
While someincluding cups, vases, and ornamentssimply served decorative and practical purposes, others were ceremonial in nature.
Stock Photosfrom shutterpix/Shutterstock
Found in burial sites across Liangzhu, these funerary objects are among China’s most mysterious creations.
Beginning around 2000 BCE, the Bronze Age is characterized by the emergence of bronze.
Poetry crafted until theMay Fourth Movementa cultural and political upheaval driven by student protests in 1919is known as Classical.
Pots from the Yangshao culture in Neolithic China (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsCC0 1.0)
It is predominantly defined by a concise use of characters and, often, the presence of rhyme.
In both cases, poems can be spoken, chanted, or writtenoften in calligraphy.
However, it was not until the 4th century CE that it reached an almost ethereal status.
Jade cong from Liangzhu culture (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 4.0)
Calligraphyliterally translates to beautiful writing.
Don’t let this straightforward title fool you, however; calligraphy is no ordinary art form.
This is due not only to its aesthetic, but to the physical skill and literacy that it requires.
Bronze vessel from the Shang dynasty (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsCC0 1.0)
However, during the Northern Song Dynasty (9601127),paintingfinally joined its ranks.
While calligraphers focus on characters, 10th-century painters concentrated on the world around them.
Specifically, they looked tolandscapes.
Du Fu, a Chinese poet (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
Like calligraphic works, landscape paintings are more than meets the eye.
In addition to showcasing the beauty of nature, such worksaddressedspecific social, philosophical, or political convictions.
This genre has become popular among many contemporary Chinese artists, withAi Weiweiat the forefront.
Calligraphy by Yuan dynasty poet Yang Weizhen, 1279-1368 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
Related Articles:
What is Chinese New Year?
Huang Guangwang, “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains,” 1350 (Photo:Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain)
“Ai Weiwei on Porcelain,” Installation at the Sakip Sabanci MuseumStock Photosfrom Bulent Demir/Shutterstock
