Art in Beijing

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China has a rich artistic history, and the nation is perhaps most famous for its contribution to the pottery world. Porcelain was introduced in early imperial China, and some scholars believe the first pieces date back to the Han dynasty, which began around 206 B.C. The works grew to be so sophisticated and desirable, the word china has become synonymous with high quality porcelain pieces.

Buddhist art began to flourish after the religion was introduced into Chinese culture during the 1st century A.D. Some years later one of the nation’s most significant artistic contributions developed: the written art of calligraphy. Other artistic achievements include Jingtailan, a cloisonné metalworking technique that originated in Beijing, and Beijing lacquerware, which is famous for its carved patterns.

Beijing has a collection of museums where you can view traditional Chinese art. The Beijing Art Museum is housed in the Longevity Temple, and it offers a variety of displays of early ceramics, iron, copperware, lacquerware and carved ivory. The National Arts and Crafts Museum and the Guanfu Classical Art Museum are other notable sites.



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