Later Imperial China

Song dynasty through the Qing dynasty

960–1912 CE

Historical Chinese painting depicting five men in traditional robes and hats, seated and standing in a garden setting with rocks and trees, with art supplies and scrolls around them.

A period marked by massive upheaval as well as cultural flourishing

Song Dynasty

960–1270 CE

Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 CE)

The Song court’s capital was at Bianjing (now Kaifeng).

Fan Kuan’s Travelers Among Mountains and Streams is a monumental ink painting dating to around 1000 CE.

Emperor Huizong’s Finches and Bamboo from the early 12th century is an example of bird-and-flower genre painting.

Important terms and concepts

Daoism

Ink Painting

Hanging scroll

Northern Song Dynasty

Emperor Huizong

Bird-and-Flower painting

Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279 CE)

The Song court’s capital was now at Lin’an (now Hangzhou).

In the 13th century, Chinese Chan (Zen) monk Muqi created this minimalist painting capturing the essence of six persimmons quickly and using very few brushstrokes.

Important terms and concepts

Chan Buddhism

Mindfulness

Ink Painting

Southern Song Dynasty

Important Individuals and Artists

Muqi Fachang

Fan Kuan

Emperor Huizong (coming soon)

The Yuan Dynasty

1271–1368 CE

Ni Zan’s Rongxi Studio is a representative example of traditional Chinese ink painting

Important terms and concepts

Mongols

Traditional Chinese ink painting

Ink Painting

ink stone

hanging scroll

Important Individuals and Artists

Ni Zan (coming soon)

Ming Dynasty

1368–1644 CE

Traditional Chinese temple roof with ornate, colorful designs and intricate carvings under a blue sky.

Explore bracket sets in traditional Chinese timber architecture with the Gate of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, or Imperial City, of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors in Beijing, China.

Important terms and concepts

Traditional Chinese Architecture

Bracket Sets

The Forbidden City

Ming Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

Illustration with classical architecture motifs, including a column and bust, with the text "In The Works!" overlaid.

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