Chinese Art & Crafts

By Stephanie Sanchez

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Introduction/History

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Like many other civilizations China has come up with many arts and crafts. Whether it was related to social status, protection, or for plain entertainment they all have made an impact on the Chinese. All these crafts came from different time periods, but that only makes them more unique.

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Terracotta Army

Title: The Terracotta Army

Date: Circa 210–209 BCE

Median: Terracotta (brownish & reddish clay)

Size: Terracotta Army measures 70 inches (1.78 meters) in height while the tallest is over 80 inches (two meters).

Location (museum/collection): Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

There are 8,000 soldiers in formation, 130 chariots with horses, 600 horses, and hundreds of exotic animals and common people. Each animal and person have their own unique details and face. There are no duplicates.

More About The Army

Back story

The first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang wanted an army to join him in the afterlife to protect him.

Fun Facts

1. It is described as "the Eighth Wonder of the World"
2. Over 700,000 laborers took about 40 years to complete the statues
3. It was discovered by local farmers.
4. Amazingly, no two figures are exactly alike.

Art of Folding Fans

Title: Art of Folding Fans

Date: Started around the mid Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644 AD)

Media:Usually, ribs of the fan were made of animal bones, wood or bamboo, while the handle was engraved with beautiful designs and decorated with jade pendants.

Size: 153cm

Location (museum/collection): Arts & Crafts Museum Hangzhou

Composed of panels and ribs, folding fans can be opened or closed by the latter rotating around the rivet at the head.

More On The Chinese Fans

Back Story

Chinese fans represented social status. The prettier the design was the richer and elegant you looked.

Fun Facts

1. Rigid fan was the most popular fan in China
2. Originally wasn’t used to cool down
3. Fan painting became an independent art form.

Shadow Puppets

Title: Shadow Puppets

Date: Started around the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 AD)

Media: Made from leather or paper

Size: Vary in size from some 20 cm to one meter

Location (museum/collection): China Intangible Heritage Industry Alliance

Made from leather or paper, accompanied by music and singing. Manipulated by puppeteers using rods, the figures create the illusion of moving images on a translucent cloth screen illuminated from behind.