When was jade first used in art in China?

Jade was first used to make amulets and figurines by the Houli Culture of China c. 6500-c. 5500 BCE.

What are some characteristics of Chinese artworks?

Chinese art depicts mythological, historical, and personal events and is characterized by attention to detail, mastery of a craft, and rich symbolism.

What were the earliest figures depicted in Chinese art?

Among the earliest figures depicted in Chines art are the mythical pig-dragon, dragons, fish, tortoises, dogs, cicadas, and the cong and bi cylinders, all developed by the Liangzhu Culture c. 3400-2250 BCE.

What was jade associated with in ancient China?

In ancient China, jade was associated with divinity, power, and protection.

Artistic Expression in Ancient China (Image Gallery) p. 11

Image Gallery

by Emily Mark
published on 28 May 2021

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Chinese Jade mask

by The British Museum
published on 28 June 2017

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Chinese Jade mask — View Full-Size Image

A Chinese miniature jade mask. 2nd millennium BCE. Height: 4 cm. (British Museum, London)

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Questions & Answers

When was jade first used in art in China?: Jade was first used to make amulets and figurines by the Houli Culture of China c. 6500-c. 5500 BCE.
What are some characteristics of Chinese artworks?: Chinese art depicts mythological, historical, and personal events and is characterized by attention to detail, mastery of a craft, and rich symbolism.
What were the earliest figures depicted in Chinese art?: Among the earliest figures depicted in Chines art are the mythical pig-dragon, dragons, fish, tortoises, dogs, cicadas, and the cong and bi cylinders, all developed by the Liangzhu Culture c. 3400-2250 BCE.
What was jade associated with in ancient China?: In ancient China, jade was associated with divinity, power, and protection.

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Explore Ancient Chinese Art & Culture – Collections

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Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Chinese Art | The Art Institute of Chicago

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Arts of Ancient China, from the Neolithic to Bronze Age | East Asian Art Program at Harvard University

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© Trustees of the British Museum. Republished under the British Museum Standard Terms of Use for non-profit educational purposes. Original image by The British Museum. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 28 June 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Copyright. You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.