Chinese art by medium and technique

The Chinese imperial court collected calligraphy pieces from the most skilled calligraphers in the country.

[citation needed] It was during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) when the sophisticated techniques used in the lacquer process were first developed, and it became a highly artistic craft.

[1] The earliest extant lacquer object, a red wooden bowl,[2] was unearthed at a Hemudu culture (c. 5000–4500 BCE) site.

[1] The knowledge of the Chinese methods focusing on the lacquer process spread from China during the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties.

Western and Chinese photographers documented ordinary street life, major wars, and prominent figures.

In the 18th century, a Qing dynasty covered vase depicting a woman holding a lingzhi fungus and a peony branch was created.

In the Qing dynasty, it suited the growing taste for intricate carving and became more prominently used for brush-holders, boxes, handles and similar pieces.

[citation needed] Seal knob (紐刻) is an art that originated in ancient China and is mainly popular in East Asian countries.

It was said that the green jade took the form of a round shape with inscriptions that read "Having received the Mandate from Heaven, may (the emperor) lead a long and prosperous life."

(受命於天,既壽永昌) This was said to be written by the Primer Li Si for Qin Shi Huang Zhao Zheng, the Augustus Emperor of The Chinese Empire.