Treasure Canons · TC5

Masterworks of Craft

Ceramics, lacquer, jade, metal and silk: objects where craft reached its height

319treasures

15dynasties

70institutions

This canon gathers treasures prized for technique: eggshell-thin black pottery, lustrous carved jade, fine lacquer and enamel, gold- and silver-inlaid bronzes, kesi tapestry and embroidery. They record how craftsmen in every age pushed their materials to the limit.

Representative treasures

319 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsHoumuwu DingA royal ritual cauldron weighing over 830 kilogramsNational Museum of ChinaTE10002Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Wine VesselsFour-Ram Square ZunA Shang bronze shattered in wartime and pieced back togetherNational Museum of ChinaTE10007Early Warring States period · Bronze Wine VesselsZun and Pan of Marquis Yi of ZengBronze as fine as lace from Marquis Yi's tombHubei Provincial MuseumTE10008Middle Spring and Autumn period · Bronze Wine VesselsLotus and Crane Square HuA crane about to take flight from a lotusHenan MuseumTE10009Western Han dynasty · Bronze Mirrors & LampsChangxin Palace LampA gilded Han lamp that swallows its own smokeHebei MuseumTE10012Late Shang dynasty · Censers & Other MetalworkBronze Sacred Tree from SanxingduiThe ancient Shu tree that reached for the skySanxingdui MuseumTE10013Tang dynasty · Gold & Silver VesselsSilver Flask with Dancing Horse Holding a CupThe horse that danced for the emperor's birthdayShaanxi History MuseumTE10014Late Shang dynasty · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGolden Sun Bird Ornament from JinshaThe golden birds that became China's heritage emblemJinsha Site MuseumTE10016Neolithic, Hongshan culture · Ritual JadesHongshan Jade DragonA jade dragon curled into a C over five thousand years agoNational Museum of ChinaTE10017Neolithic, Liangzhu culture · Ritual JadesKing of Jade Cong from LiangzhuThe king of cong, bearing the Liangzhu emblemZhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10018Western Han dynasty · Burial JadesJade Burial Suit of Liu ShengA suit of jade stitched with goldHebei MuseumTE10019Tang dynasty · Gems & Precious StonesAgate Rhyton with Animal HeadAn agate drinking horn in Silk Road fashionShaanxi History MuseumTE10020

Bronze, Gold & Silver

40 treasures
Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Food VesselsHoumuwu DingA royal ritual cauldron weighing over 830 kilogramsNational Museum of ChinaTE10002Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Wine VesselsFour-Ram Square ZunA Shang bronze shattered in wartime and pieced back togetherNational Museum of ChinaTE10007Early Warring States period · Bronze Wine VesselsZun and Pan of Marquis Yi of ZengBronze as fine as lace from Marquis Yi's tombHubei Provincial MuseumTE10008Middle Spring and Autumn period · Bronze Wine VesselsLotus and Crane Square HuA crane about to take flight from a lotusHenan MuseumTE10009Western Han dynasty · Bronze Mirrors & LampsChangxin Palace LampA gilded Han lamp that swallows its own smokeHebei MuseumTE10012Late Shang dynasty · Censers & Other MetalworkBronze Sacred Tree from SanxingduiThe ancient Shu tree that reached for the skySanxingdui MuseumTE10013Tang dynasty · Gold & Silver VesselsSilver Flask with Dancing Horse Holding a CupThe horse that danced for the emperor's birthdayShaanxi History MuseumTE10014Late Shang dynasty · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGolden Sun Bird Ornament from JinshaThe golden birds that became China's heritage emblemJinsha Site MuseumTE10016Warring States period · Bronze Food VesselsIron-legged Bronze Ding of the King of ZhongshanZhongshan's iron-legged ding of royal counselHebei MuseumTE10065Late Shang · Bronze Food VesselsYa Chou Square GuiA square gui marked with the Ya Chou clan signNational Palace MuseumTE10066Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsBoju LiA Yan bronze guarded by seven ox headsCapital MuseumTE10067Early Western Zhou · Bronze Food VesselsGui with Paired DragonsTwo dragons that meet when the lid closesNational Palace MuseumTE1006828 more · open Bronze, Gold & Silver

Jade, Stone & Seals

29 treasures
Neolithic, Hongshan culture · Ritual JadesHongshan Jade DragonA jade dragon curled into a C over five thousand years agoNational Museum of ChinaTE10017Neolithic, Liangzhu culture · Ritual JadesKing of Jade Cong from LiangzhuThe king of cong, bearing the Liangzhu emblemZhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10018Western Han dynasty · Burial JadesJade Burial Suit of Liu ShengA suit of jade stitched with goldHebei MuseumTE10019Tang dynasty · Gems & Precious StonesAgate Rhyton with Animal HeadAn agate drinking horn in Silk Road fashionShaanxi History MuseumTE10020Western Han dynasty · Imperial SealsJade Seal of the EmpressThe white jade seal of a Han empressShaanxi History MuseumTE10021Warring States period · Gold & Silver OrnamentsGilt Silver Belt Hook Inlaid with Jade and GlassA belt hook of gold, jade and glassNational Museum of ChinaTE10106Xia (Erlitou culture) · Ritual JadesSeven-holed Jade Blade from ErlitouThe largest jade from the Xia capitalErlitou Site Museum of the Xia CapitalTE10109Neolithic, Liangzhu culture · Ritual JadesJade CongA Liangzhu cong reaching skywardNational Palace MuseumTE10114Late Shang dynasty · Ritual JadesTen-section Jade Cong from JinshaA Liangzhu cong that travelled to ShuJinsha Site MuseumTE10117Western Han dynasty (Nanyue kingdom) · Burial JadesSilk-threaded Jade Suit of the Nanyue KingThe Nanyue king's jade suitNanyue King MuseumTE10118Neolithic · Jade OrnamentsJade Jue Earring with Human and Animal FiguresTaiwan's prehistoric figure-and-beast earringNational Museum of PrehistoryTE10120Neolithic · Jade OrnamentsTrumpet-shaped Jade RingA prehistoric trumpet-shaped jade ringNational Museum of PrehistoryTE1012117 more · open Jade, Stone & Seals

Ceramics & Glass

59 treasures
Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryPainted Pottery Basin with Human Face and Fish DesignThe fish-faced figure the Banpo people paintedNational Museum of ChinaTE10022Northern Song dynasty · Celadon WaresRu Ware Celadon Narcissus Basin without CrackleRu ware without a single crackleNational Palace MuseumTE10023Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign · Overglaze Enamelled WaresVase with Glazes and Enamels of Various KindsThe mother of porcelain, every imperial technique on one vasePalace MuseumTE10024Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryPainted Pottery Urn with Stork, Fish and Stone AxeA picture painted more than five thousand years agoNational Museum of ChinaTE10150Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryPainted Pottery Bottle with Human-head MouthA bottle with a human faceGansu Provincial MuseumTE10151Neolithic, Dawenkou culture · Prehistoric PotteryPainted Pottery Dou with Eight-pointed StarThe eight-pointed star of the Dawenkou peopleShandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10152Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryBoat-shaped Painted Pottery Bottle with Net DesignA fishing net painted on a Yangshao bottleNational Museum of ChinaTE10153Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryEagle-shaped Pottery DingA clay eagle that has sat for six thousand yearsNational Museum of ChinaTE10158Eastern Wu (Three Kingdoms) · Celadon WaresCeladon Tiger-shaped Vessel Dated Fourteenth Year of ChiwuA Three Kingdoms tiger vessel with a dateNational Museum of ChinaTE10160Northern Song dynasty · Celadon WaresRu Ware Celadon Narcissus BasinA Ru basin with its crackleNational Palace MuseumTE10161Northern Song dynasty · Celadon WaresRu Ware Lotus-shaped Warming BowlA Ru ware lotus in bloomNational Palace MuseumTE10162Southern Song dynasty · Celadon WaresLongquan Celadon WasherLongquan celadon at its most jade-likeNational Palace MuseumTE1016347 more · open Ceramics & Glass

Calligraphy, Painting & Rubbings

120 treasures
Song dynasty · Figure PaintingSong Copy of Yan Liben's Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan EnvoyAn audience before Princess Wencheng went to TibetPalace MuseumTE10031Southern Tang (Five Dynasties) · Figure PaintingGu Hongzhong, The Night Revels of Han XizaiA night party seen through a court painter's eyesPalace MuseumTE10032Northern Song dynasty · Landscape PaintingFan Kuan, Travelers among Mountains and StreamsA monumental landscape with the painter's name hidden in the treesNational Palace MuseumTE10034Northern Song dynasty · Landscape PaintingGuo Xi, Early SpringMountains waking from winterNational Palace MuseumTE10035Sui dynasty · Landscape PaintingZhan Ziqian, Spring OutingWhere blue-and-green landscape beginsPalace MuseumTE10036Northern Song dynasty · Landscape PaintingWang Ximeng, A Thousand Li of Rivers and MountainsThe only surviving work of a teenage painterPalace MuseumTE10037Tang dynasty · Birds, Flowers & AnimalsHan Huang, Five OxenA Tang masterpiece bought back from Hong KongPalace MuseumTE10038Northern Song dynasty · Genre & Ruled-Line PaintingZhang Zeduan, Along the River During the Qingming FestivalThe bustle of the Song capital in a single scrollPalace MuseumTE10039Northern Song dynasty · Calligraphy OriginalsZhao Ji, Thousand Character Classic in Cursive ScriptThe slender-gold emperor's wild cursive scrollLiaoning Provincial MuseumTE10257Five Dynasties · Figure PaintingZhao Yan, Eight Riders in SpringEight riders on a spring outingNational Palace MuseumTE10275Yuan dynasty · Figure PaintingZhao Yong, Spring Outing on HorsebackA rider turns his head beneath the treesNational Palace MuseumTE10284Song dynasty · Figure PaintingAnonymous Song, Children Playing in WinterChildren teasing a cat in a winter gardenNational Palace MuseumTE10296108 more · open Calligraphy, Painting & Rubbings

Books & Documents

8 treasures
Tang dynasty (868) · Rare Printed BooksDiamond Sutra of 868A Buddhist sutra printed in the year 868British LibraryTE10046Qing, ordered in 1770 (Qianlong 35) · ManuscriptsTibetan Manuscript KanjurA golden canon for an empress dowager's eightieth birthdayNational Palace MuseumTE10552Qing, 1667-1669 (Kangxi 6-8) · ManuscriptsTibetan Manuscript Dragon KanjurA Buddhist canon of 108 jewelled casesNational Palace MuseumTE10553Ming dynasty · ManuscriptsIllustrated Minerals, Insects and Plants (Ming Painted Edition)A Ming woman painter's herbalNational Central LibraryTE10560Jin, Huangtong to Dading reigns (1141-1189) · Rare Printed BooksAccount of the Avadana of the Dharma Transmission (Jin Edition)One scroll of the Zhaocheng Jin canonNational Central LibraryTE10566Western Xia · Rare Printed BooksTangut Buddhist Text "Auspicious Tantra of All-Reaching Union"The earliest known book printed in wooden movable typeNingxia Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10583Yuan dynasty · Rare Printed BooksDiamond Sutra (Yuan Zhizheng Edition)Red and black: the earliest two-colour printNational Central LibraryTE10587Qing dynasty · Archives & DocumentsSilver-leaf Memorial from the King of BurmaA royal letter on a leaf of silverNational Palace MuseumTE10603

Lacquer, Wood & Furniture

18 treasures
Northern Wei dynasty · Painted LacquerLacquer Screen from the Tomb of Sima JinlongNorthern Wei virtue painted in lacquerDatong MuseumTE10604Three Kingdoms, Eastern Wu · Painted LacquerPainted Lacquer Plate with Ji Zha Hanging His SwordA promise kept, painted in lacquerAnhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10605Three Kingdoms, Eastern Wu · Painted LacquerPair of Leather-Bodied Marbled Lacquer Ear Cups with Gilt-Bronze RimsThe earliest known marbled lacquerZhu Ran Family Cemetery Museum, Ma'anshanTE10606Warring States period · Painted LacquerPainted Lacquer Carved Wooden Table ScreenA Chu menagerie in carved lacquerHubei Provincial MuseumTE10607Early Warring States period · Painted LacquerDuck-shaped Lacquer Box with Music and Dance ScenesMusic and dance on a lacquer duckHubei Provincial MuseumTE10608Mid-late Warring States (Chu) · Painted LacquerLacquer Toilet Box with Painted Procession of Figures and CarriagesA Chu procession painted on lacquerHubei Provincial MuseumTE10609Early Warring States period · Painted LacquerOuter Coffin of Marquis Yi of ZengA marquis's coffin framed in bronzeHubei Provincial MuseumTE10610Three Kingdoms, Eastern Wu · Painted LacquerLacquer Plate with Scenes of Aristocratic Life from the Tomb of Zhu RanA day in the life of Wu aristocratsZhu Ran Family Cemetery Museum, Ma'anshanTE10611Neolithic, Hemudu culture · Painted LacquerRed Lacquered Wooden Bowl from HemuduA coat of red lacquer from the NeolithicZhejiang Provincial MuseumTE10612Early Western Han · Painted LacquerRectangular Lacquer Toilet Box with Truncated-Pyramid Lid and Raised Painted DecorationA Han noble's dressing box in raised lacquerHunan MuseumTE10613Early Western Han · Painted LacquerBlack Lacquer Liubo Game Set Painted in RedA complete Han liubo gameHunan MuseumTE10614Ming, Xuande reign · Carved LacquerCarved lacquer tableAn imperial carved lacquer table of the MingVictoria and Albert MuseumTE106166 more · open Lacquer, Wood & Furniture

Textiles & Costume

22 treasures
Eastern Han to Wei-Jin · Silk & Brocade"Five Stars Rising in the East Benefit China" Brocade Arm GuardAn auspicious phrase woven in silk, found in a desert tombXinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10047Western Han dynasty · GarmentsPlain Gauze Unlined RobeA Han robe as light as mistHunan MuseumTE10048Ming dynasty, Wanli reign · Crowns & HeadwearNine-dragon nine-phoenix crown of Empress XiaoduanThe ceremonial crown of a Wanli empressNational Museum of ChinaTE10049Northern dynasties · Silk & BrocadeBrocade with Animals in GridWoven beasts in a silk gridXinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region MuseumTE10621Mid-to-late Warring States period · Silk & BrocadeSilk braid with hunting scenesA hunt woven into a silk ribbonJingzhou MuseumTE10622Northern dynasties · Silk & BrocadeRed-ground Brocade with Sun God in Pearl RoundelsA sun god in pearl roundelsQinghai Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10623Song dynasty · Kesi TapestryImmortal Palace on a Mountain (Kesi Album, leaf 5)An immortals' palace woven in silkNational Palace MuseumTE10624Song dynasty · Kesi TapestryKesi Spring Blossoms of Wealth and RankFlowers of wealth woven in silkNational Palace MuseumTE10625Song dynasty · Kesi TapestryKesi Kingfisher and Autumn Lotus (Album, leaf 1)A kingfisher over autumn lotus in silkNational Palace MuseumTE10626Southern Song dynasty · Kesi TapestryShen Zifan, Kesi Flowers and BirdsShen Zifan's birds and flowers in silkNational Palace MuseumTE10627Southern Song dynasty · Kesi TapestryShen Zifan kesi: Plum Blossoms and MagpiesMagpies on plum, woven by Shen ZifanPalace MuseumTE10628Yuan dynasty, ca. 1330-32 · Kesi TapestryVajrabhairava mandalaA Yuan imperial mandala woven in silkMetropolitan Museum of ArtTE1062910 more · open Textiles & Costume

Sculpture & Statuary

34 treasures
Western Han dynasty · Bronze Mirrors & LampsChangxin Palace LampA gilded Han lamp that swallows its own smokeHebei MuseumTE10012Late Shang dynasty · Censers & Other MetalworkBronze Sacred Tree from SanxingduiThe ancient Shu tree that reached for the skySanxingdui MuseumTE10013Eastern Han dynasty · Tomb FiguresStoryteller Beating a DrumAn Eastern Han storyteller, laughing for nearly two thousand yearsNational Museum of ChinaTE10050Qin dynasty · Tomb FiguresTerracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin EmperorThe First Emperor's army undergroundEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site MuseumTE10051Late Shang dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Standing Figure from SanxingduiAmong the tallest bronze figures of its ageSanxingdui MuseumTE10053Qin dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Chariots and Horses of Qin Shihuang's MausoleumCarriages for the First Emperor's journeys in the afterlifeEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site MuseumTE10054Eastern Han dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureGalloping Bronze HorseThe galloping horse of China's tourism emblemGansu Provincial MuseumTE10055Tang dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneFour of the Six Steeds of ZhaolingThe war horses that won Taizong his empireXi'an Beilin MuseumTE10057Western Han dynasty · Tomb & Monumental StoneStone Sculptures of the Maoling MausoleumA stone memorial to a young generalMaoling MuseumTE10058Neolithic, Hongshan culture · Clay & Painted SculptureGoddess Head of the Hongshan CultureThe Hongshan goddess with eyes of jadeLiaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10059Neolithic, Yangshao culture · Prehistoric PotteryPainted Pottery Bottle with Human-head MouthA bottle with a human faceGansu Provincial MuseumTE10151Northern Song dynasty · Bamboo & Wood CarvingPearl Relic PillarA Song reliquary set with forty thousand pearlsSuzhou MuseumTE1061722 more · open Sculpture & Statuary

Implements & Instruments

10 treasures
Qin dynasty · Bronze Figures & SculptureBronze Chariots and Horses of Qin Shihuang's MausoleumCarriages for the First Emperor's journeys in the afterlifeEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site MuseumTE10054Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourSword of Goujian, King of YueThe sword of the king who slept on brushwoodHubei Provincial MuseumTE10061Five Dynasties · Celadon WaresYaozhou Ware Makara-shaped Water PotA sea monster from Indian myth in celadonLiaoning Provincial MuseumTE10170Ming dynasty · ManuscriptsIllustrated Minerals, Insects and Plants (Ming Painted Edition)A Ming woman painter's herbalNational Central LibraryTE1056018th century · TimekeepingGilt-bronze Clock with Writing AutomatonThe clock that writes with a brushPalace MuseumTE10675Late Spring and Autumn period · Weapons & ArmourBronze Short Sword with Gold HiltA bronze blade with a golden hiltNational Museum of HistoryTE10677Qing dynasty · Musical InstrumentsQianlong Yixing Guqin with Teadust Glaze, Inscribed Xiushen LixingA qin fired in a kilnNational Palace MuseumTE10684Warring States period · Musical InstrumentsDrum on Tiger Bases with Bird FramePhoenixes on tigers holding up a drumHubei Provincial MuseumTE10685Tang dynasty · Musical InstrumentsLushan Ware Waist Drum with Blue Splashes on Black GlazeBlue clouds on black satinPalace MuseumTE10687Western Han dynasty · Transport & HarnessBronze Canopy Fitting with Hunting Scenes Inlaid with Gold, Silver and TurquoiseA Han hunting ground on a bronze tubeHebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyTE10690

Types by dynasty

Where this canon's treasures fall by type and dynasty; click an ink dot to open that dynasty at that type.

Masterworks of Craft · Types by dynasty
XiaShangZhouQinHanThree KingdomsJinNorthern and SouthernSuiTangTen KingdomsSongYuanMingQing
Bronze, Gold & Silver40
Jade, Stone & Seals21
Ceramics & Glass53
Calligraphy, Painting & Rubbings120
Books & Documents8
Lacquer, Wood & Furniture15
Textiles & Costume22
Sculpture & Statuary32
Implements & Instruments10
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