Chinese art

Scrolls and porcelain

Chinese art encompasses the visual arts produced in China or by Chinese artists across millennia—painting, calligraphy, ceramics, sculpture, jade carving, silk weaving, and more.

The tradition emphasizes brushwork, harmony with nature, and philosophical depth rooted in Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist thought.

The museum's Chinese art collection spans from Shang dynasty bronzes to contemporary ink painting.

calligraphy

brush

Bristled cleaning tool

strokes · seal · cursive · oracle bone script · couplet · chop · hanging scroll · copybook

ceramics

porcelain

Translucent fired clay

kiln · stoneware · earthenware · vase · teapot · terracotta · clay · underglaze · overglaze · pottery

painting

brushwork

Painter's stroke method

hanging scroll · bamboo · peonies · figure painting · mounting · colophon · silk scroll

symbolism

dragon

Legendary fire-breathing reptile

plum blossom · chrysanthemum · pine · crane · bat · peach · fish · lion · qilin · tortoise

sculpture

bronze

Copper-tin alloy

grotto · relief · bodhisattva · ivory carving · netsuke

lacquerware

lacquer

Glossy protective coating

gold leaf · screens · boxes · furniture · trays · vessels · polychrome

silk

embroidery

Decorative stitching on fabric

damask · satin · court robes · rank badges · goldwork · needlework · silk screen · ceremonial garments

Categories
Opposites
geographic/cultural origin

Chinese artWestern art

European visual heritage

European art · American art · Greek art · Roman art · Italian Renaissance art

aesthetic philosophy

Chinese artphotorealism

Art imitating camera accuracy

Renaissance art · trompe-l'oeil · neoclassical art · Impressionism · Abstract Expressionism

art historical periodization

Chinese artWestern art

European visual heritage

European tradition · Western canon

Family

art, artist, artistic, arts, artistry, artful, artisan, China, artifact

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G