Chinese Zodiacs and Astrology

Chinese art is the the oldest art known to man and is wonderfully different and exciting. It is intricately intertwined with its writing system and thus it adds credibility to the often said words that paintings speak to us.

Chinese art has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and changing technology. Different forms of art have been influenced by great philosophers, teachers, religious figures and even political leaders. Chinese art encompasses fine arts, folk arts and performance arts.

The various kinds of visual art s in China have developed under the direct patronage of different imperial dynasties . The modern democratic communist China has the following categories of visual arts to express itself:

• Calligraphy
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Pottery
• Architecture
• Bronze casting
• Jewelery
• Photography
• Cinema

The last two art forms have been recent developments  but the other forms have survived since time immemorial  in the history of Chinese art under imperial patronage. The main patrons of each art form are listed below:

• Calligraphy – Xia Dynasty and Jin Dynasty
• Painting – all dynasties
• Sculpture – Qin Dynasty
• Pottery – Han Dynasty
• Architecture - Qin Dynasty
• Bronze casting – Xia Dynasty and Song Dynasty
• Jewelery - all dynasties

History of Chinese art has thus a prominent part to play in the Chinese history as the indicator of the quality of life of the Chinese people. Whenever the Chinese have felt need of expressing themselves they have resorted to the artistic forms available to them and added a significant chapter in the history of Chinese art.

Certain art forms like calligraphy have required specialized training and careful practice, a leisure that could only be afforded by the select few in the nobility; while others like sculpture, pottery, architecture, jewelry, have been a professional domain. But professional or amateur the Chinese practitioners of all art forms, in the history of Chinese Art, have always maintained a very high standard of work and ethics. This causes their work to glow with that personal warmth so identifiable in true artists.

Today, the market of Chinese art is widely reported to be among the hottest and fastest-growing in the world, attracting buyers all over the world.