The story of traditional Chinese art is in many ways the story of China itself. 

Chinese art is as mysterious and beautiful as the country itself. And it exhibits as wide a range of styles, techniques, and artistic masterpieces. 

Chinese history is extensive. It dates from the semi-mythical Five Emperors of the Third Millennium BC, and the half-legendary Xia and Shang Dynasties of the Second Millennium, to the newly ascendant communist empire of today. 

And in all that long and crowded sequence, Chinese art has evolved and grown in lockstep with the country’s changing fortunes. Let’s take a brief look at the story of ancient Chinese art, and see how it’s changed over the course of history. 

Painting

Some of the most famous Chinese art examples involve traditional painting. 

Among the earliest paintings were Chinese wall art, painted book covers, and fixed and folding fans. These media date back at least to the Shang Dynasty (ca. 1766-1050 BC). This was a time when the most popular materials were wood and bamboo, along with plastered walls. 

Beginning in the Warring States Period (ca. 5th-3rd Centuries BC), portraiture began to enter the repertoire of traditional Chinese art. The portraits of this time were far from naturalistic. The subject matter demanded a certain aloofness and reserved dignity. 

The subjects of these paintings were often important court officials and distinguished scholars. 

Landscape painting grew in importance during the great Tang Dynasty (618-907). This was a cultural and political noontide in China, following a period of disunion and independent polities. 

There was a greater focus, during the Tang period, on the relation of the human being to nature. Landscape paintings offer views of small human figures. They lead the viewer through broad, sweeping panoramas of mountains and rivers. 

At the same time, traditional Chinese tiger art sought to explore the beauty of this animal. The complementary dragon art depicted the “yang” to the tiger’s “yin.” 

Calligraphy

The importance of calligraphy as an art form in China has no real parallel in Western art.

Perhaps the simplicity of Western scripts—designed for efficiency and swift strokes—is at the root of this difference. The complex, often beautiful Chinese ideograms lend themselves to the calligrapher’s art. 

Beginning in the glorious Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), calligraphy came into its own. The aim of this art was to demonstrate the superiority of control with brush and ink. Calligraphic proficiency has been the preserve of all educated members of Chinese society. 

Calligraphy was among the “Six Arts“: ritual, music, charioteering, mathematics, archery, and calligraphy. The art was cultivated through the precise arrangement of brushstrokes. It also involved their angles and connection to one another within an imaginary space. 

These techniques even managed to impact Chinese painting. They did so by influencing the composition and use of space in these artworks. Calligraphy was also incorporated into the paintings themselves.

They acted as something like beautiful, calligraphic “captions” that described the painting, and often gave it its title. 

Sculpture

Some of the most famous Chinese art includes its sculptural and figural representations. 

The Longmen Grottoes preserve some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist sculptures. Beginning with the Northern Wei dynasty, these remarkable statues number up to 100,000 figures. 

Even more famous is the celebrated “Terracotta Army,” which comprises over 7,000 life-sized warriors and horses. This incredible array was buried with Shi Huangdi, the redoubtable First Emperor of China, and founder of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). 

Many prized smaller sculptures have come down from the half-fabulous Shang Dynasty. The most famous of these works are bronze vessels, featuring animal or dragon motifs. This resource on Chinese art explains many other little-known varieties of sculptural art. 

Pottery

One of the most famous of all traditional Chinese art forms is the country’s pottery and ceramic arts. 

Chinese porcelain has been famed and prized throughout the world for centuries. The Chinese were also the first to experiment with glazed wares, which appeared during the Han period. Technological innovations led to kilns with higher firing temperatures, and the ceramic arts of China took off. 

During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese potters achieved incredible technological advancements. The admixture of different elements enabled the introduction of new, even more colorful glazes. 

In the Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, another change occurred. This was the appearance of the famed blue-on-white porcelain ceramics. These cemented the fame of traditional Chinese pottery. 

Recent Art

The propaganda art of communist China—though far from ancient Chinese art—is very much in a line with the country’s traditional art forms. 

Monumentality and state propaganda have been a part of Chinese art from the beginning. The Great Wall and Grand Canal were begun during the reign of the First Emperor. The Forbidden City was built by the Yongle Emperor. These imposing public works are a part of China’s lifeblood. 

Aside from practical utility, they send a message about China’s greatness. In the 20th Century, communist China undertook its own campaign of artistic propaganda, often in the form of colorful posters.

It will be interesting to see how traditional forms will inform the country’s art in the years ahead. 

Learn About Traditional Chinese Art

The world of traditional Chinese art is a varied and fascinating look into the history of a great people. This brief look at the highlights of Chinese art can only begin to touch on the achievements of this ancient tradition. 

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