China through the Song Dynasty (13th Century)

A Creation Myth

Pangu Holding the Sun and the Moon

The Xia Dynasty

2100-1600 BCE

King Yu the GreatMa Lin, 13th c.

The Shang Dynasty

c. 1600-1046 BCE

Silk Worm Pupa Pendant, 13th-10th c. BCE

Oracle Bone

Jade Buffalo, 13th-11th c. BCE

Monster Mask (Taotie) Pendant, Shang Period

Ancestor Worship

Ritual Food Vessel (Fangding) 12th-11th c. BCE

Ritual Wine Server (Gong), c. 1100 BCE

Ritual Wine Cup (Zun), Shang Period

Ritual Wine Containers (Hu), 9th-8th c. BCE

Ritual Food Dish (Fu), 6th c. BCE

Ritual Food Container (Dui), c. 4th c. BCE

Bell, Early 5th c. BCE

The Tomb of Lady Fu Hao

Died 1200 BCE

Ivory Cup with Turquoise Inlay

Ritual Wine Container (Hu)

Ritual Wine Server

Ritual Wine Server (Gong)

Stone Ox

Jade Dragon

Jade Tigers

Jade Elephant

Jade Bird

Jade Mantis

The Zhou Dynasty

1046-221 BCE

Confucius, Portrait from c. 1770

Laozi, Sculpture from 8th-11th c.

The Qin Dynasty

221-206 BCE

Qin Dynasty c. 206 BCE

Shi Huangdi Seeks the Elixir of Life

The Mausoleum of EmperorShi Huangdi

259-210 BCE

The Han Dynasty

206 BCE-220 CE

The Han Dynasty c. 220 CE

Han Gaozu (Liu Bang), ruled 206-194 BCE18th-Century Portrait

Buddhism in China

Emperor Wu, Ruled 140-87 BCE

Emperor Wu Worshiping Statues of the Buddha, 8th c. Fresco

White Horse Temple Founded by Emperor Ming in 68 CE

Empress Ma (Mingde), 20-75 CE

Burial Practices

Jade Burial Suit, Han Period

Funerary Watch Tower, Han Period

Funerary Model: House, Han Period

Funerary Model: Animal Pen, 1st-3rd c.

Funerary Model: Pigsty and Latrines1st c. BCE-1st c. AD

Funerary Model: Cow, Han Period

The Great Wall

The Tang Dynasty

618-907 CE

Tang Taizong (Li Shimin), Ruled 626-648

Chang’an (Xi’an)

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, 632 CE

Small Wild Goose Pagoda, 709 CE

Qianling Mausoleum, 706 CE

Murals Depicting Court Life

Chang’an City Walls and Towers

Palace Ladies in a Garden

Court Ladies

Attendants

Eunuchs

Courtiers Playing Polo

Foreign Ambassadors

Everyday Life

Horse with Female Rider, 7th c.

Saddled Horse, Early 8th c.

Woman with Mirror, Early 8th c.

Woman with Mirror, Early 8th c.

Camel, 723 CE

Camel, Tang Period

The Palace BanquetUnknown Artist, 10th c.

The Leshan Giant Buddha

713-803

The Song Dynasty

960-1279 CE

Song Taizu, ruled 960-976Portrait from c. 1000

Lingxiao Pagoda, Zhengding, 1045

Vase, Late 10th-Early 11th c.

Urn, Late 10th-Early 11th c.

Bowl, 11th c.

Vase, 12th c.

Vase, 12th c.