Essay - Contact with Western Regions and the Middle East Led to...

Contact with Western regions and the Middle East led to a flourishing of equestrian culture in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This era in Chinese history is often referred to as a "Golden Age," for arts and architecture reached a pinnacle. Porcelain was invented during the ***** Dynasty, ***** painted portraits began to gain favor among the nobility. Sculpture and painting both reflected a love of horses in motif and energy. Colors used in Tang Dynasty art were bright, usually blues and greens.

Ceramics blossomed ***** ***** ***** Dynasty, especially small e*****henware figurines. Models of animals, guardian spirits, and women became particularly prolific; many ***** these figures were colored with yellow, green, ***** white glazes. Horses, both with and without riders, can be recognized as quintessentially Tang, ***** can figures of camels ***** oxen. The female *****m was also a popular subject in Tang sculpture. Voluptuous and sensual render*****gs ***** Court women demonstrated superior techniques. Larger scale s*****ne ********** of Boddh*****attvas exhibit Indian and Ti*****tan Buddhist influences. Indian artistic ***** ***** be seen in these forms with their flowing robes and curvaceous hips.

Huge developments were made in Chinese pottery during the Tang *****. ***** new medium of porcelain gained favor; its white, delicate look helped artists decorate functional objects ***** increased flair. Bowls, vases, and other containers make with porcelain exhibited a fine, flowing quality. The thin nature of the kaolin clay from which ***** is made caused ***** green and blue lead ***** to glow. Earthenware and stone pottery done in browns and sepias are rem*****iscent of Hellenistic art.

Small guardian spirits and portrait paintings ***** decorated the gravesites ***** tombs ***** emperors. The Tang Dynasty saw an upsurge in demand for court-commissioned *****, and Chinese ***** began to be known by name. L*****scape artists like Wang Wei and Li Ssu-hsun and his son Li Chao-tao painted with vivid hues of ***** and *****. Wild horses were also ***** subjects, reflective of ***** equestrian culture. Horses done in ink on paper with calligraphy backgrounds ***** some of the most special Tang Dynasty