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Silk in Antiquity
Silk is a fabric first produced in Neolithic China from the filaments of the cocoon of the silk worm. It became a staple source of income for small farmers and, as weaving techniques improved, the reputation of Chinese silk spread so that...
Article
Liangzhu Culture Jade
Jade artifacts and icons are almost synonymous with the Chinese culture going back thousands of years. Jade (nephrite) was first worked into recognizable objects c. 6000 BCE during the period of the Houli Culture (c. 6500 - c. 5500 BCE...
Article
Eunuchs in Ancient China
Eunuchs were powerful political players in ancient Chinese government. Originating as trusted slaves in the royal household they were ambitious to use their favoured position to gain political power. Advising the emperor from within the palace...
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Yue Ware Water Vessel
Yue stoneware water-dropper vessel in the form of a frog or a toad holding an ear or wine cup. Glazed. Made in Shanglinhu. From Zhejiang province. South China. Western Jin Dynasty. 265-316 CE. (The British Museum, London).
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Chinese Gourd-Shaped Ewer and Cover
This beautiful gourd-shaped ewer and cover comes from China's Yue kilns, which were in Zhejiang province. They were made during the era of the Northern Song Dynasty, around c. 11-12th centuries CE. (Museum Rietberg, Zürich).
Definition
Song Dynasty
The Song (aka Sung) dynasty ruled China from 960 to 1279 CE with the reign split into two periods: the Northern Song (960-1125 CE) and Southern Song (1125-1279 CE). The Northern Song ruled a largely united China from their capital at Kaifeng...
Definition
Jurchen Jin Dynasty
The Jurchen Jin dynasty (meaning “Golden”) ruled parts of China, Mongolia, and northern Korea from 1115 to 1234 CE. The Jurchen originated from Manchuria, but in conquering the neighbouring Liao empire of the Khitan and parts...