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Shanxi－Shaanxi hall in Liaocheng
Situated in Shandong, the Shanxi－Shaanxi hall faces eastwards the river. It is a construction compacts during the eighth year of the Emperor Qian Long of Qing Dynasty, already 258 years old. |
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Kumutula
Before the third century, Buddhism was introduced into the Kingdom of Qiuci of China’s Western Regions from India and Central Asia. The Kumutula grotto murals in Kuqa, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region may be rated as a treasure－house of Buddhist art in China. |
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Chinese Chess
Chinese chess has a long history. Its origin has not been confirmed yet. But judging by its rules, we can conclude that the origin of Chinese chess was closely related to military strategists in ancient China. |
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Charioteer’s Art and Horsemanship
Chinese ancestors commanded superb charioteer’s art and horsemanship during the Shang and Zhou dynasties over 3,000 years ago. With the development of science and technology, great changes have taken place in the forms of chariot racing and horse racing. But people are still eager to outdo themselves and dash forward at the maximum speed. |
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Clay Facial Makeup
The facial makeup of Beijing opera is a living art that appears on the stage with the actors. It is a stylized form. Different roles have specific costumes and colors featuring their character traits. Clay facial makeup of Beijing opera three－dimensionally represents varied and colorful images in Beijing opera. |
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Idkah
The Arabs brought Islamism to the East when they launched an expedition in the 10th century. Kashi on the west bank of the Tarim River in Xinjiang, northwest China became a shrine of Islamism.
In the 15th century, the ruler in Kashi built Idkah, a magnificent and elegant mosque to pray for the souls of his family.
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Imperial Kiln of Southern Song Dynasty
Production of Chinese porcelain flourished during the Song Dynasty. The five major kilns were Guan Kiln, Ge Kiln, Ru Kiln, Ding Kiln and Jun Kiln. Guan Kiln, or the Imperial Kiln, was the leading one. It baked porcelain exclusively for the imperial court. There were the Imperial Kiln of the Northern Song and the Imperial Kiln of the Southern Song. |
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Yangzhou´s Carved Lacquer Inlaid with Jade
Yangzhou has been an important lacquer ware center in China since ancient times. The history of lacquer work in China goes back to the Western Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. Yangzhou lacquer work reached its pinnacle in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty when its lacquer artists began to use jade and other precious stones in the adornment of carved lacquer. |
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Beijing Dough Figurines
In the old days, many peddlers beat gongs at street fairs in Beijing. Some handicraftsmen molded figurines and flowers with colored dough. This folk handicraft has been handed down to this very day. It is a unique art of dough modeling in Beijing. |
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Paintings by Farmers in Beichen
Beichen District on the banks of the Grand Canal in the north suburb of Tianjin is known as a home of modern folk paintings. Drawing pictures with brushes is a great pleasure for the local people, both men and women, old and young.
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Paziklike
The Paziklike Thousand－Buddha Cave is located in the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, northwest China. It was an imperial temple of the Northern Liang Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Construction of the cave began in the 4th century during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
The earliest record of the Paziklike Thousand－Buddha Cave can be seen in the "Illustrated Book of the Western Regions of Tang." |
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The Way of Making Up During the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was a period of the strongest colors in Chinese history. In particular, it was manifested on the faces of ladies in those days. No ladies of other dynasties made up with so glaring colors, lively touches and remarkable imagination. No people of other dynasties had such a broad space of creation to smarten themselves up. |
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Yangjiabu New Year Pictures
Villagers of Yangjiabu, Weifang, Shandong Province began to make New Year pictures long ago. As the saying goes, “Yangjiabu came into being first. The kitchen god was born next.” It proves the long history of the block printing Yangjiabu New Year pictures. |
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Ancient Inscriptions on Pottery
These cultural relics date back 4,000 years. The most precious were the big－rimmed wine vessels, sacrificial vessels of the Dawenkou Culture. The upper part of each vessel was carved with picture symbols. |
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Multiple New Year Pictures
The Multiple New Year Pictures of Gaomi City, Shandong Province are distinctive among the various schools of New Year pictures in China. With their unique craftsmanship and style, they are reputed to be one of the “three unique things” of Gaomi City. |
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Chinese Shadow Puppetry
Shadow puppetry, one of the oldest performing arts in the world, appeared in China long before the invention of motion pictures and television. It has been a popular form of entertainment in China for centuries. Shadow puppetry is a combination of performing arts and the art of carving. Shadow puppets are not only essential elements of stagecraft but also lovely handcrafted objects of art in their own right. |
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Gaomi Paper－cuts
The folk art of paper－cuts has a long history in China. In Gaomi, Shandong Province, old people or school children, and women in particular, are immensely interested in paper－cuts. |
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Fanciful Latticework on Doors and Windows
Latticework of diverse, elaborate designs which characterizes doors and windows of traditional Chinese buildings has exerted a far－reaching influence on Chinese architectural ornament. |
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Sichuan Embroidery
Sichuan Embroidery is one of the four major embroideries in China. It was first made in the western Sichuan Plain. |
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Beijing Dough Figurines
In the old days, many pedlars beat gongs at street fairs in Beijing. Some handicraftsmen moulded figurines and flowers with coloured dough. This folk handicraft has been handed down to this very day. It is a unique art of dough modeling in Beijing. |
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Ink and Wash Painting
Ink and wash painting is a genre of traditional Chinese painting done on xuan paper in black using no other colors. It is simple yet elegant. It gradually became the most important style of Chinese painting in the Yuan Dynasty during the 13th century.
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Chinese Fancy Knots
In recent years, Chinese fancy knots have become very popular in China. They are hand－made ornaments noted for their patterns and bright colors. They are also symbols of happiness and good luck. Chinese fancy knots have long found their way to Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Southeast Asian countries and are well received there. |
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Dragon kite
Flying a kite is one of the major folkways in Beijing. The dragon kite is typical of the dragon in Beijing. The dragon in the Imperial Palace in Beijing is swinging its head. It has the deer’s horns, the shrimp’s eyes, the crocodile’s mouth and the lion’s nose. It has also the bull’s ears and its hair. It looks mighty and splendid. |
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Su Embroidery
Su Embroidery is an age－old traditional craft in China. It is one of the four famous types of embroidery in the country It is characterized by delicate skills, great variety and clear relation.
When an embroiderer does the piece of double－faced embroidery, she applies binding stitches instead of tieing knots. The end of the thread is hidden. |
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Peking opera painted faces
The Peking opera painted face refers to the unique colorful make－up of an actor in the opera. It is characterized by the use of bright colors to exaggerate or distort his features. |
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Bells
The bell has a long history in China. It is an embodiment of Chinese culture and science, and testifies to the wisdom of Chinese people.As early as in the Shang Dynasty single hand－bells were used. Later the hand－bell evolved into series of bells in different sizes.
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Furniture of Ming and Qing Dynasties
Furniture is part of a convention concerning people´s residence. Its design, manufacture and style reflect the spiritual outlook and aesthetic taste of a time. The Ming and Qing dynasties were the golden age of Chinese traditional furniture. |
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Seals
Chinese seal carving is a unique art. Exquisite or forceful, a seal reveals the charm of an Eastern tradition and condenses in it the Chinese aesthetics that has lasted thousands of years. |
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Tang Tri－coloured Glazed Pottery
When a railway was under construction in 1899, many pieces of exquisite pottery were unearthed from tombs of the Tang Dynasty near Luoyang, Henan Province. The pieces of pottery were in yellow, green and white colours or in yellow, green and brown colours. Since they were unearthed from tombs of the Tang Dynasty, they were called "Tang tri－coloured glazed pottery". |
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