Folk Arts
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Brick Sculpture
Bricks carved with patterns in relief were used for decorative purposes on the exterior of old houses-mansions of officials and the rich,shrines and temples,landscape buildings in parts.They are also found on the entrance gates,windows and screen wa...
Silhouette Carving
The silhouette carving,which is a branch of the Hui'an school of stone sculpture in Fujian,derives its name from its photo-like artistic effects.For its exquisite craftsmanship it is extolled as a wonder of China. Using a variety of tiny chisels ran...
Tri Coloured Tang
Tangsancai refers to the tri-coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.),a painted earthenware which appeared in the wake of celadon.It is called tri-colouredbecause yellow,green and white were normally used,although some pieces are al...
The Shadow Show
The shadow show or leather silhouette play is a type of drama which has its roots in China. Legend has it that Emperor Wudi(156-87 B.C.)of the Western han was depressed with the death of his favourite concubine Lady Li.To help him get over the sadne...
The Puppet Show
The puppet show(kuileixi)is better known as mu'ouxi(play of wooden dolls),in the country,which has its roots in remote times.It is said that King Mu of the Zhou(c.10th century B.C.)of oral history,on his way home from a big hunt on the Kunlun Mounta...
Red Ware
Yixing,Jiangsu Province,known in China as thePottery Metropolis,produces a much-valued red ware or boccaro ware.Teapots of this category made there were appraised as the best vessel there was,already in the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago. Yisxing...
Batik
Batik or wax printing is a folk art popular among certain ethnic minorities in Guizhou and neighbouring provinces. It involves painstaking work but follows a rather simple process.First,beewax is melted in a bowl;then a special brass knife if used t...
Celadon
Celadon,a famous type of ancient Chinese stoneware,came into being during the period of the Five Dynasties(907-960).It is characterized by simple but refined shapes,jade-like glaze,solid substance and a distinctive style.As the celadonware produced i...
Potted Landscapes
China is the homeland of the potted or miniature landscape.The art began about 1,200 years ago during the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.)and has been known under various names.An indoor decoration of refined taste over long ages,it has been praised aswor...
Silk Flowers
These are artificial flowers made of fine woven silk in exact imitation of natural ones in respect of colour and shape.They are made in several steps:starching and dyeing of the material,shaping and pasting.The art of making silk flowers is believed...