Editing Chinese art (section)

==== Influence of Buddhism ====
{{Main|Buddhist art#China|l1=Buddhist art}}
[[Buddhism]] arrived in China around the 1st century CE (although there are some traditions about a monk visiting China during [[Asoka]]'s reign), and through to the 8th century it became very active and creative in the development of Buddhist art, particularly in the area of statuary. Receiving this distant religion, China soon incorporated strong Chinese traits in its artistic expression.

In the fifth to sixth century the [[Northern dynasties]], rather removed from the original sources of inspiration, tended to develop rather symbolic and abstract modes of representation, with schematic lines. Their style is also said to be solemn and majestic. The lack of corporeality of this art, and its distance from the original Buddhist objective of expressing the pure ideal of enlightenment in an accessible, realistic manner, progressively led to a research towards more naturalism and realism, leading to the expression of Tang Buddhist art.

<gallery widths="230" heights="230">
File:Mural Worshipping Bodhisattva.jpg|Mural from the [[Mogao caves]], [[Western Wei]], (535-556 A.D.)
File:Dunhuang mural flying apsarasa.jpg|[[Dunhuang]] mural, mid 6th century  
File:Sogdian whirl with large pipa.jpg|Buddhist cave art, a dancer spins while the orchestra plays. 
File:Vairocana, Fengxian Temple, Longmen Grottoes (10240207654).jpg| Vairocana, [[Longmen Grottoes]], 500-900AD
File:FireLanceAndGrenade10thCenturyDunhuang.jpg|An illustration of Sakyamuni's temptation by Mara
File:Grotta nr 158.JPG|Reclining Buddha, High Tang period 
</gallery>