Han’s Night-Shining White exemplifies the expressive power of the line, the backbone of Chinese painting.
Tang Dynasty
This begonia-shaped porcelain bowl attempts to achieve purity and perfection in its shape, thinness, and glaze
Tang Yue ware
Musicians on camels, women on horseback, and terrifying guardians—these are some of the figurines found in Tang dynasty tombs
An introduction to tomb figurines, Tang dynasty
This embroidery, discovered at Dunhuang, dates from China’s Tang dynasty (618–907) and depicts the Buddha preaching at Vulture Peak – in Buddhist tradition a favorite retreat of the Buddha and his disciples.
Buddha preaching at Vulture Peak embroidery
In China, people made tomb figurines as replacements for real objects so that the deceased would enjoy their company or service in the afterlife.
Tomb figures of a man and woman ...
A fragmentary silk painting tells us about Buddhist art along the Silk Roads, numerous Buddhist sacred icons, and the complex life of an object after its creation.
A silk painting of sacred Buddhist images ...
Representations of foreigners are often seen in Tang tomb figurines
Tomb figure of a groom
Mogao Cave 323 at Dunhuang tells a version of the origins of Chinese Buddhism across its many wall paintings.
Dunhuang Historical Art, Cave 323
Qin have for centuries been valued as a symbol of high culture by the Chinese elite class.
Zither (qin) inscribed with the name “Dragon’s ...
Chinese fabrics—typically silks—were traded widely and became one of the most popular goods on the Silk Road.
A Tang silk brocade
The Tang dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history.
Tang dynasty (618–907), an introduction
ThisTang dynasty figure tells us something about human beauty & its moment in time
Figure of a seated court lady
The Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies is an eighth-century copy of the earliest and finest painting attributed to Gu Kaizhi, and illustrates a political parody
Admonitions Scroll, attributed to Gu Kaizhi
Cave art at Mogao reflects changing beliefs as well as stylistic influences from India, the West, and the Tang.
The paintings and manuscripts from cave 17 ...
Hidden in a cave and undisturbed for centuries, this important collection of paintings was rediscovered in 1900.
The paintings and manuscripts from cave 17 ...
“Beautiful women paintings” provide insight into ideals of beauty and other social customs at the Tang court.
Attributed to Zhou Fang, Ladies Wearing Flowers ...
Why were cave shrines created? Who were the patrons? What was their use? Discover these remarkable ancient sites.
Chinese Buddhist cave shrines
Located at a desert crossroads along the Silk Road, these famous caves boast wall paintings and colorful sculpture.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
