Song Dynasty China
960–1279 CE
A period in Chinese history characterized by technological and cultural innovations, including gunpowder, the compass, and movable-type printing. Founded by Emperor Taizu, it was divided into the Northern and Southern Song periods.
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.
Important terms and concepts
Daoism
Ink Painting
Hanging scroll
Northern Song Dynasty
Emperor Huizong
Bird-and-flower painting
Emperor Huizong’s Finches and Bamboo from the early 12th century is an example of bird-and-flower genre 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
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