Five Famous Chinese Artworks You Should Know

Spanning from the 6th century to the present day, these iconic works offer a window into the rich tapestry of Chinese art history. While contemporary Chinese art and globally renowned artists like Ai Weiwei and Cai Guo-Qiang have become household names, the vast scope and diversity of historical Chinese art can seem daunting to explore. By delving into these five celebrated works—curated from Artsy’s collection—we’ll journey through two millennia of artistic evolution, from the Han Dynasty to the modern era. Contrary to the myth that appreciating Chinese art requires expert knowledge, these pieces possess a universal appeal that can captivate audiences of any background.

1. Painted Banner from the Tomb of the Marquess of Dai (Mawangdui), ca. 160 B.C.E.

In the early 1970s, archaeologists excavating an ancient burial site in present-day Hunan Province uncovered one of the most extraordinary archaeological finds of modern times: the tomb of Lady Dai, a noblewoman whose body remained remarkably preserved. Resting atop the innermost coffin in her nested burial set, this painted silk funeral banner is hailed as the earliest known portrait in Chinese art history.

The map-like composition is divided into three distinct realms: the underworld, the mortal world, and the celestial realm of immortals. At the center, Lady Dai stands surrounded by family members and attendants, while below, relatives hold a funeral feast and offer sacrifices to guide her soul toward the immortals’ domain. The underworld—symbolized by massive serpents—is where her corporeal soul resides, while her spiritual soul ascends to the heavenly realm above. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, the banner is an invaluable historical artifact, offering profound insights into ancient Chinese beliefs about the afterlife.

2. Seated Buddha (Cave 20, Yungang Grottoes), Northern Wei Dynasty, ca. 460 C.E.

By the 6th century CE, Buddhist cave temples and monumental cliff-carved sculptures dotted the landscape from central China to what is now Afghanistan. You might even notice parallels between the Yungang sculptures and the renowned Buddhas of Bamiyan—tragically destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. These cave chapels served not only as places of worship and pilgrimage sites but also as sacred sanctuaries separate from the ordinary world.

Among the over 200 caves at Yungang, few are as awe-inspiring as the colossal seated Buddha in Cave 20. Once vividly painted and enclosed within a massive cliff cave (since collapsed), this serene figure embodies the fusion of Chinese, Indian, and Central Asian artistic traditions—blending intricate patterning with three-dimensional depictions of the human form. Its monumental scale would have made visiting worshippers feel as if they were in the very presence of the Buddha himself.

3. Fan Kuan, Travelers Among Mountains and Streams, Northern Song Dynasty, Early 11th Century

Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese landscape painting (known as “shan shui” or “mountain and water painting”), Fan Kuan’s Travelers Among Mountains and Streams has influenced countless artists across generations and continues to captivate viewers with its transcendent portrayal of nature. Legend has it that Fan Kuan retreated to the remote mountains to observe and learn from the natural world, allowing him to capture its essence with his brush. Whether apocryphal or not, the nearly seven-foot-tall hanging scroll lends credibility to this tale.

The painter employed a tripartite composition—dividing the scene into foreground, middle ground, and background—while shifting the visual weight to the upper portion of the scroll. This technique makes the towering mountains loom over the travelers on a rocky path below, as well as over anyone standing before the painting, creating a sense of awe and reverence for nature.

4. Zhang Zeduan, Spring Festival on the River (Also Known as Along the River During Qingming Festival), Northern Song Dynasty, Early 12th Century

Though its attribution to Northern Song academic painter Zhang Zeduan and exact creation date remain unconfirmed, this masterful work has nonetheless become one of the most famous and fiercely debated pieces in Chinese art history. Designed to be viewed by unfurling the long silk handscroll incrementally, the painting unfolds like a dynamic narrative, offering a bird’s-eye view of an idealized ancient city.

As you scroll from right to left through the highly detailed scene, you’ll encounter a bustling marketplace, sailors, farmers, scholars, monks, and people from all walks of life going about their daily routines. The painting immerses viewers in a comprehensive snapshot of urban life nearly a millennium ago, bringing the past vividly to life.

5. Xu Bing, Book from the Sky, ca. 1987-1991

The centerpiece of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s acclaimed “Ink Art” exhibition and arguably the most iconic work of contemporary Chinese art, Xu Bing’s Book from the Sky consists of a vast installation of printed books, scrolls, and banners—all composed entirely of invented Chinese characters. Xu Bing created, hand-carved, and typeset these fake “classical texts” using traditional Chinese printing techniques, a process that took him and his assistants over three years to complete.

The result is a powerful exploration of language’s limitations: Chinese speakers are constantly frustrated by their inability to decode the obscure text, while all viewers are enveloped in the almost mystical aura of so much unintelligible writing. In early Buddhist and medieval Christian traditions, written text was believed to hold sacred power. With Book from the Sky, Xu Bing revives this sentiment for a modern audience, tapping into the universal human desire to find meaning amid chaos.

Five Famous Chinese Artworks You Should Know

1. Painted Banner from the Tomb of the Marquess of Dai (Mawangdui), ca. 160 B.C.E.

2. Seated Buddha (Cave 20, Yungang Grottoes), Northern Wei Dynasty, ca. 460 C.E.

3. Fan Kuan, Travelers Among Mountains and Streams, Northern Song Dynasty, Early 11th Century

4. Zhang Zeduan, Spring Festival on the River (Also Known as Along the River During Qingming Festival), Northern Song Dynasty, Early 12th Century

5. Xu Bing, Book from the Sky, ca. 1987-1991

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