Chinese Dynasties

1700 BCE – 1911 CE

by Megan Eguchi and
Brittany Del Bianco
 Shang
1700-1027 BCE
Emperors – Tang, Wu Ding, Zhou
Accomplishments
Developed bronze (independently)
Silk
Developed first Chinese writing system:
ideographic & pictographic
Spoked wheel
Pottery
Decimal system
Accurate calendar
Oracle bones
SILK

Silk fabric

Silk Worm
Bronze Art

Bronze
container
 Pottery

Pottery – unknown Pottery – unknown

artist artist
Writing

Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru – Huang

Tingjian
Chinese Calligraphy
 Zhou
1027 – 250 BCE
Emperors – Ji Chang, Ji Fa, Ji Man, Ji
Gongsheng
Accomplishments
• Canals & water systems (tributary
of Yangtze – still in use today)
• Iron plowshares
• Collar harness
• Currency system
BRONZE ART

Ritual Food
Container
Bronze inlaid
with
composition
of bone black
and lacquer
Bronze and Jade Art
Left: Ritual
Offering Vessel
Bronze

Right: Handle
Shaped
Ornament
Jade
 Bronze Art

BELL BRONZE
Artwork

Pendant in the
Form of a
Dragon
Pale green
translucent jade
 Qin
221 – 207 BCE
Emperor – Shi Huang Di
Accomplishments
• Legalism
• Terra Cotta Warriors
• Unification of Great Wall
• Standardized: currency, measurements, laws,
and language
• Bureaucratic government
TERRA COTTA WARRIORS
& MRS. PESATO
 Stone
Pendant in the
Form of a
Reclining Cow
Blue-green jade
The Great
Qin
Wall of
China
Artwork
Left: Pendant in the
Form of a Dragon
Jade

Right:Emper
or in Chariot
Bronze
 Han

202 BCE – 221 CE

Emperors – Liu Bang, Wu, Zhao, Liu Ying
Accomplishments
• Inventions of: paper, accurate sundials,
calendars
• Major expansion of trade
• Textile manufacturing
• Water mills
• Iron casting
• Production of steel
• Ships with rudder & fore-and-aft rigging
FUNCTIONAL ART
Left: Silver Inlaid
Bronze Chariot
Fitting
Bronze with
silver inlay

Right: Storage Jar

Ceramic, pigment
 Pottery
Lifan amphora
Burnished pottery
Functional Model

FUNERARY MODEL OF A
PIG STY
EARTHENWARE
Artwork

Silk Worm
Gilt Bronze
 Sui
581 – 618 CE
Emperors – Yang Jian, Yang Guang, Yang You
Accomplishments
• Grand Canal was extended north from
Hangzhou across the Yangzi to Yangzhou
and then northwest to the region of
Loyang
• Building of granaries around the
capitals
• Fortification of the Great Wall along
the Northern borders
• Confucianism returns
FUNCTIONAL ARTWORK
Chicken-head Ewer
Yueh ware Stoneware
with pale greyish-
green glaze
Functional Artwork

Bowl
Porcelain
Clay

LEFT: CAMEL
CLAY

RIGHT:
BUDDHIST
SCENE
CLAY
Functional Artwork

Bowl
Glass
 Tang
618 – 907 CE
Emperors – Li Yuan, Li Shimin, Wu Zetian (a
woman), Li Longji, Li Yu, Li Chen, Li Zhu
 Accomplishments
• Development of astronomy, medicine, and
printing
• Rapid rice production
• Poems
• Emeralds, pepper
• Mural paintings and sculptures found in Mogao
Caves: over 40% were from the Tang Dynasty
 SCULPTURE

Flying Dragon
Gilt Bronze
Functional Artwork
Left: Ewer
Stoneware with
white slip and “cut-
glaze” peony décor
against grey body

Right: Ewer
Glazed
Earthenware
Carving

WALL
CARVING
BLACK
LIMESTONE
Sculpture

Horse Sculpture
Ceramic glazed
porcelain
 Song
969 – 1279 CE
Emperors – Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Guangyi,
Zhao Kuo
Accomplishments
• Typography
• Compass
• Gunpowder
• Poems
• Literature
 WRITING

The Classic of Filial Piety

Ink on Silk
Chinese Calligraphy and Poem
Below: Quatrain on Spring’s
Radiance – Yang Meizi
Ink on silk

Above: Sailing on the

Wu River – Mi Fu
Ink on paper
 Painting

CLOUDY MOUNTAINS – MI YOUREN

INK ON PAPER
Painting

Narcissus – Zhao Mengjian

Ink on paper
 Yuan
1279 – 1368 CE
Emperor – Borjigin Kublai
 Accomplishments
• Fabled Forbidden City (architectural elements
from Mongolia, Western Asia, and Arabia)
• Improved roads throughout the country for
more efficient transportation
• New waterways
• Built granaries throughout country to prevent
famine
• Artificial lakes, parks, hills, and mountains
• Advancement of art, drama, literature, and
poetry
WRITING

W I N D A M O N G TH E
TR E E S O N TH E
R I V E RB A N K – N I
ZA N
INK ON PAPER
 Calligraphy and Painting

Twin Pines, Level Distance – Zhao

Mengfu
Ink on paper
 Writing and Painting

BELOW: WANG XIZHI

WATCHING GEESE – QIAN
XUAN
INK ON PAPER

ABOVE: FOUR ANECDOTES

FROM THE LIFE OF WANG
XIZHI – ZHAO MENGFU
INK ON PAPER
Painting and Poem

Fisherman – Wu Zhen
 Ming
1368 – 1644 CE
Emperors – Hongwu, Jingtai, Longqing,
Chongzhen
Accomplishments
Created laws that improved the peasant life
 Created the novel
 Repairing of the Great Wall
FUNCTIONAL ART
Brush Holder –
Zhang Xihuang
Bamboo
 Painting
Garden of the
Unsuccessful Politician –
Wen Zhengming
Ink on paper
 Ming

LEFT: CELADON
JAR
EARTHENWARE,
GLAZE

RIGHT:
SCHOLAR IN
LANDSCAPE –
LIU YUAN-CH’I
INK ON PAPER
Painting

Towering Mountains and

Fantastic Waterfalls –
Chang Ch’eng-lung
Ink and colors on silk
 Qing
1644 – 1911 CE
Emperors – Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong
Accomplishments
Military among the best
 Encyclopedia of Chinese writings (Confucian
classics, philosophy, history)
 Kangxi Dictionary
 Resolved conflict between nomads and peasants
 Use of smallpox virus to fight smallpox
 Rise of medicine
 PAINTING

Finger Painting – Kao Ch’i-pe’i

Ink and colors on paper
 Functional Art

Box and Cover

Red carved lacquer
Poem and Painting

LEFT: COUPLET –
ZHAO ZHIQIAN
INK ON PAPER

RIGHT:
RETURNING
HOME – SHITAO
(ZHU RUOJI)
INK ON PAPER
Painting

Landscapes from
nature, Poetry,
and Art – Wang
Ch’en
Ink on paper
The End