Art of the Six Dynasties: Centuries of Change and Innovation
六朝艺术:世纪之变与创新

Between the fall of the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) and the rise of the Tang empire (618–907), China was in political turmoil for almost four hundred years, consistently experiencing wars and regime changes. The period from 220 to 589 CE is commonly known as the Six Dynasties. Far from being a cultural wasteland, however, the Six Dynasties period was a time of reorganization and regeneration. During this period, the fabric of Chinese culture was strengthened by the assimilation of new forces such as Buddhism and the energy of nomadic conquerors. The arts, particularly calligraphy, painting, ceramics, and sculpture, thrived in this turbulent period and inspired the brilliant and diversified art of the Tang dynasty when China restored her long-lost unification. This exhibition showcased fifty-seven works from the Six Dynasties period, featuring sculpture, ceramics, jade, stone epitaph rubbings, masks, and mirrors.