Arts of Early China: Neolithic to the Song Dynasty at Victoria and Albert Museum

An art history course. Ancient bronze, jade and lacquer artefacts display an artistry and skill indicative of highly organised societies and provide a tantalising glimpse into early ritual practise and belief. The dynastic highpoints of the Han, Tang and Song all produced artwork of exceptional variety and quality and paintings, ceramics, lacquer and precious metals will all be explored. Interactions with peoples along China’s borders and beyond will be examined in the context of the Silk Route, the rise of Buddhism and the introduction of a new artistic repertoire which enriched the culture of metropolitan China.