Image Gallery
Tomb Entrance from Han Dynasty China
Until about the 2nd century BCE, Chinese tombs featured chambers made of heavy wooden logs. Thereafter, tombs were made of stone and brick. This stone-made example from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) makes clear that the tombs of the wealthy were also seen as subterranean residences. Adorned with beautifully decorated walls, they were furnished with everything that the occupant might need in the hereafter. Although criticized by social reformers, lavish burial customs persisted. Tombs in ancient China were meant to last and to be visited by relatives over time with offerings. Stone tablets bearing the occupant's name, dates, and a short biography were also deposited in the tomb. These would survive beyond the family lineage. (Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto)
Questions & Answers
When do jade artworks first appear in China?
- Jade was first used to create artworks in China c. 6000 BCE during the period of the Houli Culture (c. 6500 - c. 5500 BCE).
When was the Great Wall of China first built?
- The Great Wall of China was first constructed during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) but that wall did not resemble the famous wall known today.
What was the first dynasty of ancient China?
- The Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BCE) was the first dynasty of ancient China, thought to be mythical until archaeological evidence supported its existence.
Did the Xia Dynasty develop jade artwork?
- Work in jade was developed by the Hongshan Culture (c. 4700-2900 BCE) and the Liangzu Culture (c. 3400-2250 BCE) long before the Xia Dynasty was established. The Xia simply drew on earlier techniques of work in jade.
