Visual Timeline: Chinese Art

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

4500 BCE 4000 BCE 3500 BCE 3000 BCE 2500 BCE 2000 BCE 1500 BCE 1000 BCE 500 BCE 0 CE 500 CE 1000 CE  
 
4500 BCE - 3000 BCE: The Hongshan culture in China produces a jade figurine which is the oldest known depiction of a dragon.
 
 
2700 BCE: The earliest known examples of woven silk from Qianshanyang, China.
 
1600 BCE - 1046 BCE: Writing develops in China during the Shang Dynasty.
 
1250 BCE - 1046 BCE: Oracle Bones in use in China during the Shang Dynasty.
 
 
206 BCE: The Emperor Shi Huangti is buried with a terracotta army of more than 8,000 soldiers in a palace tomb.
 
105 CE: Invention of fine paper-making process by Cai Lun.
 
303 CE - 365 CE: Life of Wang Xizhi, China's most famous calligrapher.
 
600 CE - 673 CE: Life of celebrated Chinese court painter Yan Liben.
 
626 CE - 649 CE: Woodblock printing process develops under reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
 
 
675 CE: The Buddhist Fengxiansi Cave is carved at Longmen Grottoes, China.
 
699 CE - 759 CE: Life of Wang Wei, the celebrated Chinese landscape painter.
 
990 CE - 1030 CE: Life of Chinese painter Fan Kuan.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4500 BCE 3500 BCE 2500 BCE 1500 BCE 500 BCE 500 CE