## Chinese Dynasties Overview
### Ancient Dynasties
| Dynasty | Period | Achievements |
|———|——–|————-|
| Xia | 2070-1600 BC | First dynasty |
| Shang | 1600-1046 BC | Bronze work, writing |
| Zhou | 1046-256 BC | Philosophy, iron |
| Qin | 221-206 BC | Great Wall, unification |
| Han | 206 BC-220 AD | Silk Road, culture |
### Imperial Dynasties
| Dynasty | Period | Achievements |
|———|——–|————-|
| Tang | 618-907 | Poetry, cosmopolitan |
| Song | 960-1279 | Art, technology |
| Ming | 1368-1644 | Forbidden City, porcelain |
| Qing | 1644-1912 | Last dynasty |
## Traditional Art Forms
### Calligraphy
– Four Treasures: Brush, ink, paper, inkstone
– Five scripts: Seal, clerical, regular, running, cursive
– Famous masters: Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing
### Painting
| Type | Characteristics |
|——|—————-|
| Landscape | Mountains, water, nature |
| Bird-and-flower | Detailed nature scenes |
| Figure | People, stories |
### Porcelain
– Blue and white (Ming)
– Celadon (Song)
– Famille rose (Qing)
## Cultural Heritage Sites
### UNESCO World Heritage
– Great Wall
– Forbidden City
– Terracotta Warriors
– Mogao Caves
– Potala Palace
### Museums to Visit
– Palace Museum (Beijing)
– National Museum (Beijing)
– Shanghai Museum
– Shaanxi History Museum
## Traditional Philosophy
### Confucianism
– Focus: Social harmony, ethics
– Key concept: Ren (benevolence)
– Influence: Government, education
### Taoism
– Focus: Nature, balance
– Key concept: Wu wei (non-action)
– Influence: Art, medicine
### Buddhism
– Arrived: 1st century AD
– Schools: Chan (Zen), Pure Land
– Influence: Art, philosophy
## Appreciating Chinese Art
### Key Elements
1. Understanding symbolism
2. Recognizing techniques
3. Historical context
4. Artist background
### Common Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|——–|———|
| Dragon | Power, emperor |
| Phoenix | Grace, empress |
| Bamboo | Resilience |
| Lotus | Purity |
Chinese art and history reflect 5,000 years of civilization.