Harmonious balance within the universe is the principle that underlies all aspects of Chinese culture; it can be seen in all the arts from the earliest dynasties to the dawn of the modern world. Throughout its development, Chinese art consistently maintained a careful balance of tradition and innovation, of both native and foreign ideas, and of religious and secular images.

China's early Bronze Age rulers constructed underground tombs furnished with bronze vessels, carved jades, and ceramics. The high artistic quality of these objects demonstrates the artistic sophistication of China's earliest dynasties. In later centuries, Chinese artists often returned to the visual vocabulary of these early works. This jade from the Qing dynasty, made nearly 4,000 years after the Bronze age, maintains the spirit of a Bronze Age vessel.

Buddhism arrived in China from India as a fully developed religious system. Buddhism profoundly affected Chinese art and a new aesthetic was developed as Chinese artists transformed the Indian forms into a wholly Chinese expression of Buddhist ideals.

The Tang period has been called China's Golden Age. A stable government and economic prosperity brought about a flourishing of all the arts. The robust spirit of the Tang era is captured in this ceramic horse. Intended for a tomb, it must have been the kind of fiery steed the owner desired for his after-life. The Tang dynasty was a period of rich innovation in the decorative arts. Influences from the Middle East, brought by traders and artisans from many nations, stimulated new styles in metalwork and ceramics. Following the collapse of Tang rule, Song China was invaded in the 12th century by the Mongols under Kublai Khan, whose famous court was visited by Marco Polo. Many scholars and officials withdrew from the Mongol court and developed a style of amateur ink painting which was deliberately opposed to the paintings admired by the previous song emperor. Literati landscape painting became a major form of expression in China and exerted a great influence on Japanese artists as well.

Mongol rule ended with the establishment of a native Chinese dynasty once again. As if in celebration, there was a glorious outburst of artistic production. The Ming period is famous for its extravagant decorative arts. The Ming were great antiquarians and often chose themes for their arts recalling ancient motifs. Lacquer, a very ancient art in China, achieved new heights of ornamentation. Luxury items such as this box were ornamented with richly carved patterns. The same extravagance was applied to another ancient art-- jade carving-- as can be seen in this charming nephrite animal. Ming ceramics are among the finest the world has ever seen and had a large impact on the development of ceramics in Asia and Europe.

As the Ming dynasty crumbled, Mughal invaders from the north stood ready and China prepared itself for another foreign invasion.