The Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) is considered a golden age in Chinese history. It succeeded the short-lived Sui dynasty (581–618 CE), which had reunified China after almost 400 years of frag-mentation. The Tang built an enduring state on the institutions the Sui rulers had established. Known for its military power, successful diplomacy, prosperity, and cosmopolitan culture, Tang China was one of the greatest empires of the medieval world. China extended its territory (including vassal states) from the Korean peninsula in the east to the steppes of Mongolia in the north, and from present-day Afghanistan in the west to northern Vietnam in the south. Because Tang rulers secured the safety of the overland trade route known as the the Silk Road, merchants and pilgrims came to China from all over Asia, bringing with them new religious ideas and cultural practices.

This cosmopolitanism is reflected in all of the arts of the period. The exchange along the Silk Road of goods such as textiles, metalwork, and glass inspired Tang craftsmen to experiment with new techniques and designs. One of the most typical Tang ceramic types is “three-colored” glazed ware, known as sancai. Tang potters were also skilled in making white wares and celadons. Painters from all over the empire were attracted to the patronage of the court. Court painters Yan Liben (ca. 601–673) and Wu Daozi (ca. 680–759) were renowned. Along with their painting skills, many cultivated scholar-officials were also poets and calligraphers. The three arts—painting, poetry, and calligraphy—were appreciated as the “three perfections.” Web resources here and here.