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| Neolithic Chinese Vase Public Domain |
The roots of modern China date to the Neolithic age when a budding civilization developed along the Huang He River (Yellow River) some 8,000 years ago. The Huang He River, known locally as "the River of Sorrows," sustained the civilization, but also brought devastating floods and destruction.
One of the first civilizations to master the art of pottery long before the invention of the potter's wheel, Chinese pottery, decorated in spiral patterns, was used in elaborate burial rituals and for the storage of grains. The fact that most of these earthen vessels have been found in burial tombs suggest a long-held belief in the after-life and of ancestor veneration.
By 1650 BCE, the Shang Dynasty had established control over a wide area and built a capital at Zhengzhou. Here, archeologists have discovered a vast array of artistic artifacts, ranging from terracotta items to bronze and jade sculptures.
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| Bronze Drinking Vessel, Shang Dynasty Public Domain |
In the Shang Dynasty, artisans perfected bronze casting. They created an intricate sculpture of clay and then a clay mold into which molten bronze was poured. Once cooled, the outer clay was broken away to reveal the finished product, which would then be cleaned and polished.
These bronze sculptures rivaled everything else produced in metal anywhere in the ancient world. The sculpture to the left was used to hold wine used in religious rituals.
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| Standing Male Sculpture, Sanxingdui Public Domain |
One of the ancient world's largest bronze sculptures stood over 8 feet tall and dates to c. 1200 BCE. It was discovered outside of the boundaries of the Shang Dynasty at a location known as Sanxingdui. The site was excavated first in the 1980s and has caused historians and archeologists to rethink the histories of the early cultures of China. This previously unknown culture was a contemporary culture of the Shang Dynasty and was an independent kingdom.
Ceremonial masks, knives and other items cast in bronze have also been discovered throughout the Huang He region. These items display a high level of Chinese craftsmanship when it came to working with metal.
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| Small jade pendant Photo: Zcm11 Creative Commons |
During the Neolithic Age, Chinese artisans also sculpted in jade. This stone will later become a very prominent aspect of Chinese art and its use during the Shang Dynasty has puzzled historians and archeologists. The carving of jade requires materials usually not present during this time and how Chinese craftsmen accomplished this remains somewhat of a mystery. Nonetheless, the creation of such items required a tremendous amount of time and skill.
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| Chinese oracle bones, Shang Dynasty Photo: Dr. Meierhofer Creative Commons |
One of the most recognizable types of art dating from the Shang Dynasty are so-called "oracle bones." Usually made from the shoulder bones of cattle or the shells of tortoises, these items were placed in tombs and were decorated with early Chinese script. Used to foresee the future, oracle bones pre-date even the Shang Dynasty, but were continued to be used throughout several dynastic cycles.
Points to Remember
- The Shang Dynasty was the first documented dynasty in China
- During the Shang Dynasty, Chinese artisans displayed a high level of proficiency using bronze. They created knives, vases, masks and statues out of the metal.
- From the very beginning, the inhabitants of China turned to jade as a highly desirable stone for the creation of art.
- Oracle bones are one of the earliest forms of Chinese art that provide evidence to an early form of Chinese writing
Updated: August 14, 2014
© 2014 Bruce Janu
Bell, Book & Camera Productions
Bell, Book & Camera Productions
