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Allie Frymire Reynolds Global Studies 8-4 22 October 2013 The Importance of Art in Early Chinese History and Culture Art had a large significance in the Shang, Han, and Song dynasty cultures because of the incorporation of key themes and materials that impacted tradition and society. In the Shang dynasty, bronze and jade were important artistic materials; they were also used in ceremonial customs and weaponry. These materials were used in art because of their value in Chinese society, as well as the improvement that bronze and jade made upon previous materials. The chapter Shang Artists from World History: Journey Across Time states that the Shang dynasty used jade and bronze in art because of its recent discovery and its intrinsic worth in Chinese culture (Spielvogel 228). The art created using these resources laid a foundation for future art styles as well as for ancient Chinese culture. The use of bronze and jade in modern times shows how the Shangs artistic innovations changed Chinas overall style of painting, drawing, and sculpture. The Han dynasty was influenced by earlier dynasties such as the Shang; however, it was most heavily influenced in its art by a growing religion from that time, Buddhism, and the use of the Silk Road. Silk was an extremely substantial material in the Han dynasty. Silk was created initially in China, and its frequent use and trade helped define Chinese culture and arts. The Han dynasty also implemented stone and earth toned colors due to the earth-like materials they used in sculpture. As said by the Encyclopedia of Asian History, Han art was not very colorful and contained many earth-tones because of the popularity of earth- or stone-like materials at that time (Hsu 25-30). Religion and trade played a major role is shaping the arts of the Han dynasty, which would affect the overall artistic tradition of China because of the growth of Buddhism and the rising popularity of the Silk Road for trade. Later in Chinese history, the Song dynasty marked the rise of painting for leisure and relaxation. The article China: Arts and Landmarks points out the rise of painting for leisure in the Song dynasty because it allowed citizens to express themselves in a medium besides writing. As such, landscape painting became

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a large portion of Song art. Many artists were inspired by Chinas diverse geography and captured these images, such a mountain sunsets and rivers, into paintings. The article China: History details the influence of geography in the Song dynastys artistic styles because of the growing popularity of landscape art. Song arts, similar to the Han, built upon previous styles. The Song dynasty made art a large aspect of culture and enriched Chinas history and tradition. The importance of art overall in Chinese history is substantial. China was greatly affected by early art and previous art styles have been translated into modern times; the art of the Shang, Han, and Song dynasties had greatly deepened its already rich artistic culture and history.

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Work Cited "China: History." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2013. CLIO, 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Ebrey, Patricia. Song Dynasty. Encyclopedia of Asian History. Vol. 3. New York: Scribner, 1988. 495-500. Hsu, Cho-Yon. Han Dynasty. Encyclopedia of Asian History. Vol. 2. New York: Scribner, 1988. 25-30. Print. Keightley, David N. Shang Dynasty. Encyclopedia of Asian History. Vol. 3. New York: Scribner, 1988. 426-429. Print. Kublin, Michael and Hyman Kublin. Chinese Silk and Porcelain, Bronze Work, Shang and Zhou Art. World Regional Studies: China. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. 85-87, 3840. Print. Leppman, Elizabeth J. "China: Arts and Landmarks." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO,2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Spielvogel, Jackson J. Shang Artists, The Chinese Empire Grows. World History: Journey Across Time. New York: McGraw-Hill/Glencoe, 2008. 228, 244-245. Print.