The Minneapolis Institute of Arts artsmia.org - Museum Home Page
The Art of Asia
Introduction
History & Maps
Chinese Dynasty Guide
Neolithic Era
Shang Dynasty
Chou Dynasty
Ch'in Dynasty
Han Dynasty
Six Dynasties
Sui Dynasty
T'ang Dynasty
Five Dynasties
Sung Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Ch'ing Dynasty
Japanese Historical Periods
Korean Historical Periods
Maps
Buddhism
Explore the Collection
History
Chinese Dynasty Guide


Shang Dynasty
Dynasty Timeline Ching Dynasty Ming Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Sung Dynasty Sung Dynasty Five Dynasties Tang Dynasty Sui Dynasty Six Dynasties Han Dynasty Chin Dynasty Chou Dynasty Neolithic Era

From This Period

Appliqué Mask
Appliqué in the Form of a T'ao T'ieh Mask

Axe Scepter
Axe Scepter

Fang I (Ritual Wine Vessel)
Fang I (Ritual Wine Vessel)

Dagger: Ko (Dagger Axe)
Dagger: Ko (Dagger Axe)
See more objects from this dynasty

Shang

1523 - 1028 B.C.

Pronunciation: "shahng"

Their cast-bronze weapons gave Shang kings military might. Eventually, the same material was cast as vessels bearing the t'ao-t'ie* (monster) mask motif. These objects, often inscribed with the names and titles of clans and rulers, were buried in their owners' tombs. Jade objects increased in religious significance. Woven silk, glazed ceramics, and lacquerware first appeared in the Shang.

*Pronounced: TOW (as in "tower") - TYUH (rhymes with "the")

Video: Shang Dynasty
Curator of Asian art Robert Jacobsen takes us through China's illustrious past by focusing on each of its historical dynasties.
Shang Dynasty Map