Asian Art Timeline, by Emily Hrynko

Comb-Patterned Vessel

3000 BCE

This is an earthenware vessel from Korea. It was made during the Neolithic period.

The Great Bath at Mohenjo Daro

2500 BCE

This is a public bath used by people in the Indus Valley civilization. It is located in what is now Pakistan. It is made of bricks.

Figurine of a Mother Goddess

2400 BCE

This is a terra-cotta sculpture from the Indus Valley period, in Mohenjo Daro (modern Pakistan).

Stamp Seal with a "Unicorn"

2300 BCE

This is from Harappa (Pakistan), from the Indus Valley civilization. It is made of burned steatite.

Jia

1250 BCE

This is a bronze wine-drinking vessel, made during the Shang dynasty in China.

Owl-Shaped Vessel

1200 BCE

This is a bronze wine-drinking vessel. It was found in the Henan province in China, and dates to the Shang period.

Wine Vessel

1200 BCE

This is a bronze vessel, from the Hunan province (China). It dates to the Shang dynasty.

Standing Figure

1200 BCE

This is a bronze statue, found in the Sichuan province (China). It dates to the Shang dynasty.

Mask with Hooked-Cloud Ornament

1200 BCE

This is a bronze sculpture from the Shang era in China.

Master Lai's Bell

850 BCE

This is a bronze bell, made during the Western Zhou dynasty. It was found in the Shaanxi province (China).

Chaitya

500 BCE

This is a part of a cave complex from the Kushan period found at Ajanta (India). It is rock-cut.

Wine Vessel (Zun) and Water Basin (Pan)

475 BCE

This dates to the Warring States period, and was found in the Hubei province (China). It was cast in bronze using the lost-wax method.

Koneswaram Temple

400 BCE

This is an ancient Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. Since its creation, it was been destroyed and reconstructed so we aren't sure what materials were used originally.

Vishnu

375 BCE

This is a sandstone sculpture of Vishnu. It is from the Gupta period, and was found in northern central India.

Hu

300 BCE

This is a wine vessel made of bronze with silver inlay. It is from the Warring States period in China.

Standing Figure of Buddha

250 BCE

This is from the Kushan period in the Gandhara area (Pakistan/Afghanistan) and it is made of schist stone.

Lion Capital from an Ashoka Column

250 BCE

This is a capital from Sanchi (India) during the Maurya empire, and it is made from sandstone.

Coffin with Cloud Patterns

180 BCE

This coffin is made of wood and lacquer. It dates to the Western Han dynasty, and was found in the Hunan province in China.

Mittens

180 BCE

These are silk (with embroidery) mittens from a tomb found in the Hunan province in China.

Hill-Shaped Incense Burner

113 BCE

This was crafted out of bronze and gold. It was found in a tomb in Mancheng, and dates to the Western Han dynasty.

Funeral Suit

113 BCE

This suit was crafted out of jade and gold. It dates to the Western Han period and was found in a tomb in Mancheng (China).

Scene of Celebration in a Pavillion

150

This painting was crafted by rubbing ink on a stone relief. It dates to the Eastern Han dynasty and was found in the Shandong province (China).

Linga with face of Shiva

400

This is crafted from sandstone, and was made in Madhya Pradesh (India) during the Gupta period.

Dancing Scene

400

This is a wall painting from a tomb in Korea. It dates to the Three Kingdoms period.

Hunting Scene

400

This is a wall painting from a tomb in Korea. It dates to the Three Kingdoms period.

Crown

500

This is a crown from the Three Kingdoms period in Korea. It is made from gold and jade.

Incense Burner

500

This is a gilt bronze vessel. It is from the Three Kingdoms period in Korea.

Vessel Stand with Snake Decoration

500

This is a gray stoneware vessel from the Three Kingdoms period in Korea.

Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Anata

530

This is from a Hindu temple in Deogarh India. It is made from sandstone.

Reliefs - showing either the descent of the Ganges or Arjuna’s penance

625

This is a Hindu rock-cut relief. It is from Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu in India.

Great Goose Pagoda

652

This is a pagoda made of masonry. It was made in the Tang dynasty, and is located in the Shaanxi province in China.

Court Ladies (detail)

706

This is a wall painting (pigment on plaster) from a tomb in the Shaanxi province (China). It dates to the Tang dynasty.

Playing Polo (detail)

710

This is a wall painting (pigment on plaster) from a tomb in the Shaanxi province (China). It dates to the Tang dynasty.

Night-Shining White

750

This is a piece of a handscroll, and was made with ink and paper. It dates to the Tang dynasty in China. It is attributed to the artist Han Gan.

Wang Geon

900

This is a bronze figure from the Goryeo period in Korea.

A Solitary Temple Amid Clearing Peaks

960

This is a hanging scroll, made of ink and color on silk. It is attributed to the artist Li Cheng, and dates to the Five Dynasties/Northern Song Dynasty in China.

Early Spring

1072

This is a hanging scroll, made from ink and color on silk. Gou Xi is the artist, and it dates to the Northern Song period in China.

Ewer in the shape of Bamboo Shoot

1125

This is a celadon-glazed stoneware vessel with incised decoration. It is from the Goryeo period in Korea.

Wine Pot with Bowl

1175

This is a celadon-glazed stoneware vessel with incised, inlaid, and underglaze copper decoration. It is from the Goryeo dynasty in Korea.

Maebyeong Bottle

1200

This is a celadon-glazed stoneware vessel with incised and inlaid decoration. It is from the Goryeo period in Korea.

Twelve Views of Landscape (detail)

1210

This is a handscroll made from ink and silk. It was done by Xia Gui, during the Southern Song dynasty in China.

Seated Willow Branch Gwanse'eum Bosal

1400

This is a hanging scroll made by placing ink, colors, and gold pigment on silk. It is from the Goryeo dynasty in Korea.