Arts of Asia – Yuan
1280 - 1365
Pronunciation: "yoo-EN"
Mongol invader Genghis Khan and his hordes conquered
much of Asia, including China; his grandson Kubilai Khan established this
dynasty, during which the Mongols reopened and expanded overland trade
routes linking China, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. Venetian merchant
Marco Polo spent seventeen years exploring this exotic outpost, where
he was surprised to discover advances as yet unheard of in Italy. The
Yuan exported the first blue-and-white porcelain. And its artists regarded
painting as a medium for self-expression, a departure from the "courtly" tradition
of previous generations.
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Foliate Box and Cover |
Forest Chamber
Grotto at Chu-ch'u |
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