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Chinese Dynasty Guide


Tang Dynasty

Dynasty Timeline Ching Dynasty Ming Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Sung Dynasty Sung Dynasty Five Dynasties Sui Dynasty Six Dynasties Han Dynasty Chin Dynasty Chou Dynasty Shang Dynasty Neolithic Era

From This Period

Horse from a Tomb Retinue
Horse from a Tomb Retinue

Ewer
Ewer

Jar
Jar

Ceremonial Stem Cup
Ornament (one of a pair)

See more objects from this dynasty

T'ang

618 - 906

Pronunciation: "tahng"

The second of the four greatest dynasties, the T'ang combined aggressive military and economic expansion with political stability and creative achievement. Traffic along the Silk Road was brisk with both import and export trade. Among its notable artistic contributions were sophisticated figure painting, tricolored ceramic tomb figurines, and exquisite porcelain. A significant development of this period is the use of rare, cobalt blue glazes. The T'ang revered both horses and camels, figures of which were placed in the burials of the royalty and aristocracy, along with gold and silver ornaments.


Tun-Huang Grotto

Silk Road Map
Video: Tang Dynasty
Curator of Asian art Robert Jacobsen takes us through China's illustrious past by focusing on each of its historical dynasties.

Tang Dynasty Map