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A bronze vessel from the Shang dynasty (18th–12th century BCE), usually used in ritual sacrifice. 

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Around 6000 and 2000 BCE, there were many Neolithic cultures that expanded across China. Stokstad and Cothren state that because these cultures were so close together for a long time, they combined to form three different dynastic states. These three Dynasties, the Xia, the Shang (c. 1700–1100 BCE), and the Zhou (1100–221 BCE) are usually considered the beginning of Chinese history.
The Shang dynasty casted ritualistic vessels in bronze, produced jade in ritualisitic shapes, and used language that would eventually become modern day Chinese. During the later part of the Zhou dynasty, states began fight each other for domination through war tactics. In turn, the horrors of war influenced China’s first philosophers.

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Porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue. Created during the Ming dynasty, 1403–1424. 

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Stokstad and Cothren reveal that during the Ming dynasty, China became famous all over the world for its ceramic art, especially porcelain. The imperial kilns in Jiangxi Province became the most renowned center for porcelain all over the world. The shapes of two porcelain flasks used for decanting wine were probably inspired by Islamic glass vessels. Literati painting, the more emotional than the realistic style of painting, was also very prominent during the Ming dynasty.

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A painting of flowers by Yun Shouping. Made during the Qing dynasty, 1633–1690. Ink and color on paper. 

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When the Manchus marched into Bejing to take control, they had already adopted many Chinese traditions and customs. After gaining control of China, Stokstad and Cothren tell us that the Manchus showed great respect for Chinese tradition. The main artistic elements of the late Ming dynasty continued into the Manchu, or Qing, dynasty. Many of the Qing emperors were artists and painters themselves. Literati painting became the common painting style at court. The emperors also developed a style of bird-and-flower painting, originally developed by Yun Shouping. For others, the intense and violent beginning of the Qing dynasty spurred a new type of art called Individualism, which allowed certain artists to express their anger and frustration at the political situation.

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Woman standing in front of Resident Alien. Created by Hung Liu in 1988. Oil on canvas. Original is a collection of the San Jose Museum of Art. 

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Our textbook tells us that many Chinese artists traveled to Europe during the first decades of the twentieth century to study Western art. After returning to China, many artists introduced the ideas and techniques they had learned and explored ways to recreate Chinese and Western traditions. After communism was established in China in 1949, artistic freedom was halted as arts and intellectuals were suppressed in order for citizens to undergo "re-education". Cultural attitudes relaxed a bit after 1979, and Chinese artists were able to start to express themselves artistically after a long period of censorship. This is when artists like Hung Liu emerged with their unique perspectives regarding recent political turmoil and cultural history behind them.