Throughout most of Chinese art history, art was designed to represent the artist’s exceptional character rather than just his practical creative talents.
The ancient art of calligraphy – and it was surely an art for the ancient Chinese people – sought to exhibit exceptional control and ability by utilizing ink and brush.
Chinese artists painted on a variety of materials in a variety of forms. The most common formats were on walls, screens, boxes, and coffins, silk scrolls.
Lacquer and Jade were possibly the most typical Chinese materials of the minor arts. Jade was highly valued in China because of its durability, scarcity, purity, and link with immortality.