In 1974, thousands of clay figures of people and horses were discovered near Xi'an in burial pits near the tomb of Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty. These figures, which are the earliest known life-sized Chinese sculptures, date from the 200's B.C.

Buddhism reached China from India during the Han period. Sculptors then began to turn their skills to the service of this new religion. Temples were built in or near cities. In rural areas, cliffsides were hollowed out to form elaborate chapels. Sculptors decorated the chapels with figures of Buddha and his attendants. Some sculptures were carved from local stone. Others were molded of clay and painted. Still other sculptures were cast of bronze and coated with gold. As artistic expressions of religious faith, these works rival the finest sculptures in the monasteries and cathedrals of Europe

Some topics in this essay:
Neolithic Period, AD Ch'ing, Miaoli Nantou, Ming Ch'ing, India Han, Kiangsi Province, Yingke Chen, University Accompanying, Asian Buddhism, Shang Zhou, pottery porcelain, yingke chen, shang dynasty, chinese pottery, ceramic art, ming 1368-1644 ad, 1368-1644 ad, ming 1368-1644, 1368-1644 ad dynasties, 1279-1368 ad, yuan 1279-1368, ad ming 1368-1644, porcelain makers, 1279-1368 ad ming, yuan 1279-1368 ad,