Title: 
Headings: 

Content: HISTORY OF VISUAL 
        ART
For dates of early cultures,
see: Prehistoric Art Timeline. For later dates and chronology,
see: History of Art Timeline. For movements and periods,
see: History of Art. Introduction
The contribution to Chinese 
        artof the Songs ranks alongside that of the earlier era of Tang 
        Dynasty art(618-906), itself a high point in the culture of medieval 
        China. The Song Dynasty is divided into two quite distinct periods: the 
        Northern Song (Bei Song) (960-1127), based in Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng), 
        which controlled most of inner China; and the Southern Song (Nan Song) 
        (1127-1279), based at Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou).