Title: Zhou Dynasty Art: Characteristics, Types
Headings: Zhou Dynasty Art (1050-221 BCE)
History, Types and Characteristics

Zhou Dynasty Art (1050-221 BCE)
History, Types and Characteristics
Content: The Shang and Zhou eras traditionally comprise the Bronze Age of China, when bronze was used to make weapons, as well as ritual vessels, and played a significant role in the material culture of the time. During this era of Bronze Age art, the Zhou Dynasty maintained much of the ancient art of China - including the bronze casting of ceremonial vessels, and jade carving - and encouraged the growth of new visual arts like goldsmithing and lacquerware, as well as calligraphy and its cousin Chinese painting, nearly all of which has since been lost. Other cultural developments included the introduction of chopsticks, ox-drawn ploughs, large-scale irrigation projects and a program of new roads and waterways. In addition, Chinese writing evolved into its modern form. Later, during the Eastern Zhou dynasty, iron appeared, as did the philosophical movements of Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism. Note: For the key principles underlying art in ancient China, see: Traditional Chinese Art: Characteristics. Zhou Bronzes
Under the Western Zhou (Xi), the quality of bronze casting - which had reached a peak of excellence during the era of Shang Dynasty art - declined, before experiencing a renaissance during the Eastern Zhou (Dongzhou) period.