Guide To Art History

Famous ArtistsArt Styles and PeriodsArt MediumsAncient Art

Introduction to Ancient Art of the Han Dynasty By ArtHistory.net

Regarded as the Golden Age of China, the Han Dynasty spanned about four centuries;however, since it was interrupted by the Xin Dynasty (9 AD ­ 23 A) it is typicallydiscussed as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC ­ 9 AD) and the Eastern Han Dynasty (25AD ­ 220 AD). As a period of economic growth, the Han Dynasty (encompassing Easterand Western Han Dynasties) also witnessed a period of artistic flowering. Today Chinesecharacters are termed 'Han' characters in honor of this rich era of Chinese history.

Literature flourished during the Han period, particularly poetry. The Han era is alsocelebrated for its ceramics. A good portion of the dynasty's ceramics production wasreserved for funerary purposes; much of what archeologists have been able to uncoverhas come from grave sites. Many Chinese tombs that date to this era are world famousfor their art works. Clay figurines were also installed in graves for help in the afterlife;these figures often represented servants or animals. The Han Dynasty is also known forits lacquerware. Lacquered objects and paintings often featured scenes from daily lifeincluding people, of course, and animals.

When exploring Han art, one often finds various sized earthen statues adorned withpigment. In fact, a shade known as 'Han purple' is believed to be one of the earliesthuman­made pigments for use in art. Bronze statues and objects were also createdduring the Han period and feature some extraordinary metalwork; horses were apopular motif for Han artisans. Some of the key materials Han artists used includebronze, glazed and unglazed ceramics, jade, paint, stone, and wood. Painting andsculpture were widely practiced and the dynasty benefited considerably from knowntechnology like high­heat kilns and well­developed glazes.

Many Han objects might be described as simplistic­­a bronze vessel, for example, mightboast only a rudimentary shape. However, some items like earthenware vesselscontained ornate shapes and decoration; often these might be painted with phoenix anddragons and other popular Chinese motifs of the era. Simple pots might feature handlesof human figures performing acrobats and statues might depict human faces in poses oflaughter.

Han funerary art was quite well­developed and is often compared to Egyptian tomb art.Tombs typically would be made from brick and ornately adorned depending on thestature of the deceased. Many tombs had multiple rooms that contained items the

deceased might require in the afterlife as well as objects of art. Historians believe thatHan architecture was also quite advanced as evidenced by uncovered items like ornatestone pillars; however, as most structures were created with wood, few have survivedto present times. Taken together, this period is revered for its art and artisticdevelopments.

See Also: Great Wall of China ­ Beijing, China ­ Yangtze River ­ Shanghai, China

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