English
fr
ar
bg
cs
da
de
el
es
fi
hu
id
it
he
ja
ko
nl
pl
pt
ro
ru
sk
sv
th
tr
uk
History of Chinese Art from the Sui-Tang Dynasties
The period of the Sui (隋 , 581-618) and Tang (唐 , 618-907) dynasties marks a golden age of Chinese culture. This era saw the flourishing of painting, calligraphy, ceramics, and garden art, fueled by exchanges on the Silk Road and political stability.
Major Artistic Timeline
- 581: Reunification of China under the Sui, creating conditions for a cultural renewal
- 618: Advent of the Tang, beginning of a century of creative expansion
- 626-628: Foundation of the two great schools of calligraphy (书法 )
- Around 713: Perfection of the 唐三彩 (three-color) glaze
- 8th century: Peak of portrait painting and shanshui (山水 ) landscape painting
Artistic Revolutions
The cultured elite (文人 ) developed new pictorial techniques while imperial workshops perfected white porcelain. Garden art (园林 ) achieved unprecedented philosophical harmony, blending natural elements and human creations.
Masters of Painting and Calligraphy
- Yan Liben (阎立本 )
- Li Sixun (李思训 )
- Wu Daozi (吴道子 )
- Han Gan (韩干 )
- Wang Wei (王维 )
- Zhou Fang (周昉 )
- Han Huang (韩滉 )
- Li Zhaodao (李昭道 )
Cultural Heritage
This period saw the birth of:
- The first pieces of true porcelain
- The development of Chan Buddhism influencing aesthetics
- The synthesis of Northern and Southern styles
- The invention of rice paper for artistic creation
Artistic Treasures of the Sui-Tang
Characteristic landscape of the Sui Dynasty showing early interest in nature
"The Lady Playing Chess": an example of Tang court painting illustrating aristocratic life
"A Hundred Horses" (detail), masterpiece by Han Gan on silk (26.7 × 302.1 cm)
Techniques and Materials
Artists developed:
- The 泼墨 (splashed ink) technique
- Lead glazes for San Cai ceramics
- The use of gold and mineral pigments in painting
- The first theoretical treatises on landscape art
