ARTS AND CRAFTS OF CHINA
Chinese Arts and Crafts
The arts and crafts are not only the embodiment of the people's longing for aesthetic beauty for themselves and as gifts for others, but also great treasures for China the rest of the world. Many of the marster artisans have had their skills handed down via one generation to the next so that only the offspring of such an artisan could learn the necessary skills required.
The Art of China
Chinese civilization began more than 4000 years ago. The earliest art forms would use rock and stone for art because they didn’t know to use metal yet. Later there wasthe Bronze Age, Stone Age, Neolithic or New Stone Age.

Of all the Chinese arts and crafts, the most representative are Bronze Vessels, Folk Toys, Calligraphy, Music, Painting, Jade, Kites, and Silk.
Influence
Chinese arts are influenced by three major religions, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Another major influence was nature. All landscape painters tried to get a feeling of the human spirit and the strength of the wind, water, mist and mountains. In their process and material, they use many material such as medal, bronze, jade and cloth.
JADE
In Chinese, jade is pronounced as 'Yu', and most words related to moral include this word such as 'Unpolished jade never shines,' indicating that one cannot be a useful person if he is not educated.

CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy to which people both then and now attach great importance this highly stylized form of writing and has been developed by many eminent calligraphers of many different dynasties.
KITES
Kites being delicately made of paper and bamboo and are of numerous shapes such as swallow, centipede, butterfly etc.
PORCELAIN
Porcelain derived from the Shang Dynasty. It is characterized with fine
texture,bright colors, and distinctive shapes and styles.

TEA BOWL
A dark-brown glaze with buff-colored tortoiseshell markings cover the exterior of this small tea bowl.


SPIRIT JAR (HUN PING)
Large, extensively decorated burial jars like this have been recovered in recent decades. Made without lids, the jars display an extremely rich assortment of molded figures, animals, and architectur.
BANBOO IN SNOW
At first glance, this work lacks refinement and displays somewhat exhibitionist brushwork, but it is noteworthy because of the artist's creativity in handling rather traditional subject matter.
CERAMICS
The Chinese contribution to ceramic art is one of uncontested brillian. The amazingly rich period of Chinese ceramic production from the Neolithic era can be explore through the Sung Dynasty.

LION DANCING
There are 2 different type of lions, Southern and Northern. The Northern lion dance focuses more on jumping and playing with props. Southern lion dance focuses on styles and footsteps during the performce.

HUMANISTIC SPIRIT
Hermitry means keeping away from the secular society. In ancient China, people who chose this kind of lifestyle were called hermits, or recluses.
CONCLUSION
Of all the Chinese arts and crafts, not only a vivid reflection of Chinese culture but also the embodiment of both the Chinese people, and of the nation itself. There were many different dynasties like the T’ang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, and the Qin Dynasty were a few dynasties. Chinese art began more than 4000 years ago. We still appreciate the hard work artists did back then.