Chinese art history is a rich tapestry woven with influences from philosophers, religious leaders, and political figures. These influences shaped the diverse art forms that emerged throughout Chinese history.
Early Chinese art, dating back to the Neolithic period, primarily consisted of pottery and jade artifacts. The Shang Dynasty introduced bronze, renowned for its intricate detail and clarity, further enriching the artistic landscape.
Pottery fragments discovered at the Xianrendong (Spirit Cave) site in Jiangxi Province, dating back to approximately 9000 BC, represent some of the earliest known Chinese ceramics. These handmade wares, created through coiling and fired in bonfires, featured decorations such as impressed cord marks and stamped or pierced designs.
The Xianrendong site was occupied from roughly 9000 BC to 4000 BC, during which two distinct types of pottery were produced. Coarse-bodied wares were likely intended for everyday use, while finer, thinner-bodied wares were possibly reserved for ritual purposes or special occasions. Archaeological evidence suggests that both types of wares were produced concurrently at certain times.
Some experts believe that true porcelain originated in Zhejiang Province during the Eastern Han period. Chinese experts emphasize the importance of porcelain-building minerals, such as china clay and porcelain stone, in defining porcelain. Shards recovered from Eastern Han kiln sites indicate firing temperatures ranging from 1260 to 1300°C, possibly dating as far back as 1000 BC. Porcelain was introduced and refined in early imperial China to such an extent that the word “china” became synonymous with high-quality porcelain in the English language.
The Sui and Tang periods (581 to 906) witnessed the production of a wide array of ceramics, both low-fired and high-fired. Notable examples include the Tang lead-glazed sancai (three-colour) wares, the high-firing, lime-glazed Yue celadon wares, and low-fired wares from Changsha. In northern China, kilns in Henan and Hebei provinces produced high-fired, translucent porcelains. An early mention of porcelain by a foreigner comes from an Arabian traveler during the Tang Dynasty, who noted, “They have in China a very fine clay with which they make vases which are as transparent as glass; water is seen through them. The vases are made of clay.”
Tang Sancai burial wares have gained popularity as an art form. “Sancai” translates to “three-colours,” although the glazes used to decorate Tang Dynasty wares were not limited to just three. Western dealers sometimes referred to Tang sancai wares as “egg-and-spinach” due to the use of green, yellow, and white, though the latter two colours are more accurately described as amber and off-white/cream.