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The Arts of China
Internationally renowned and a crucial classroom text, The Arts of China has been revised and expanded by the late Michael Sullivan, with Shelagh Vainker. This new, sixth, edition has an emphasis on Chinese art history, not as an assemblage of related topics, but as a continuous story. With updated attributions and dating throughout and a revised bibliography, it reflects the latest archaeological discoveries, as well as giving increased attention to modern and contemporary art and to calligraphy throughout China’s history, with additional discussions of work by women artists. Visual enhancements include all new maps, and approximately one hundred new color illustrations—bringing the total to well over four hundred color illustrations.
Written in the engaging and lucid style that is Sullivan's hallmark, The Arts of China is readily accessible to general readers as well as to serious students of art history. Sullivan's approach remains true to the way the Chinese themselves view art, providing readers with a sense of the sweep of history through China's dynasties. This organizational strategy makes it easy for readers to understand the distinct characteristics of each period of art and to gain a clearer view of how Chinese art has changed in relation to its historical context. With many improvements that bring it fully up to date, The Arts of China will remain the most comprehensive and widely read introduction to the history of Chinese art.
Written in the engaging and lucid style that is Sullivan's hallmark, The Arts of China is readily accessible to general readers as well as to serious students of art history. Sullivan's approach remains true to the way the Chinese themselves view art, providing readers with a sense of the sweep of history through China's dynasties. This organizational strategy makes it easy for readers to understand the distinct characteristics of each period of art and to gain a clearer view of how Chinese art has changed in relation to its historical context. With many improvements that bring it fully up to date, The Arts of China will remain the most comprehensive and widely read introduction to the history of Chinese art.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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About the author
Michael Sullivan
20 books4 followersDonovan Michael Sullivan (Chinese: 蘇立文), 29 October 1916 – 28 September 2013, was a Canadian-born British art historian and collector, and one of the major Western pioneers in the field of modern Chinese art history and criticism.
Sullivan was born in Toronto, Canada, and moved to England at the age of three. He was the youngest of five children of Alan Sullivan (pen name Sinclair Murray), a Canadian mining engineer turned novelist and his wife Elisabeth (née Hees). Sullivan was a graduate of Rugby School and graduated from the University of Cambridge in architecture in 1939. He was in China from 1940–1946 with the International and Chinese Red Cross followed by teaching and doing museum work in Chengdu, where he met and married Wu Huan (Khoan), a biologist who gave up her career to work with him.
He received a PhD from Harvard University (1952) and a post-doctoral Bollingen Fellowship. He subsequently taught in the University of Singapore, and returned to London in the 1960s to teach at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Then he became Christensen Professor of Chinese art in the Department of Art at Stanford University from 1966 to 1984, before moving to the University of Oxford as a Fellow by Special Election at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He lived in Oxford, England. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford for 1973–74.
Sullivan was a major art collector who owned more than 400 works of art, including paintings by Chinese masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Wu Guanzhong. His was one of the world's most significant collections of modern Chinese art. He bequeathed his collection to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which has a gallery dedicated to Sullivan and his wife Khoan.
Sullivan was born in Toronto, Canada, and moved to England at the age of three. He was the youngest of five children of Alan Sullivan (pen name Sinclair Murray), a Canadian mining engineer turned novelist and his wife Elisabeth (née Hees). Sullivan was a graduate of Rugby School and graduated from the University of Cambridge in architecture in 1939. He was in China from 1940–1946 with the International and Chinese Red Cross followed by teaching and doing museum work in Chengdu, where he met and married Wu Huan (Khoan), a biologist who gave up her career to work with him.
He received a PhD from Harvard University (1952) and a post-doctoral Bollingen Fellowship. He subsequently taught in the University of Singapore, and returned to London in the 1960s to teach at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Then he became Christensen Professor of Chinese art in the Department of Art at Stanford University from 1966 to 1984, before moving to the University of Oxford as a Fellow by Special Election at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He lived in Oxford, England. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford for 1973–74.
Sullivan was a major art collector who owned more than 400 works of art, including paintings by Chinese masters Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, and Wu Guanzhong. His was one of the world's most significant collections of modern Chinese art. He bequeathed his collection to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, which has a gallery dedicated to Sullivan and his wife Khoan.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 27, 2010
You wouldn't expect such fine discrimination and revealing insights in what is ostensibly a college textbook, but Sullivan's passion carries the entire book along in a wonderfully readable way. No snoozing through this book at all.
November 12, 2025
Because why can a textbook not be a part of my reading goal? Very informative, gave a great history and how art has played and continues to play a huge part in Chinese government and culture. Went through the majority of the major dynasties throughout China. This book gave me a great introduction to Chinese art history which will be so helpful in my future careers.
October 19, 2018
The book is organized temporally by Chinese dynasties. Each chapter begins with a section on the historical context of the art in that time period. It is a college textbook and it would be tedious and confusing to read straight through it. But you can read it selectively, for example, by finding the section on painting (or ceramics or sculpture) in each chapter. I appreciate the inclusion of dynasty maps.
May 23, 2008
All cultures must be explored in art for total social awareness.
July 7, 2009
Given to me by my uncle for Christmas when I was in middle school, this is one of my favorite books to browse through.
May 15, 2014
Read Chapters 5-10
March 29, 2015
Nice overview and introduction to the traditional arts of China. People looking for more can use the bibliography.
November 28, 2018
Basic introduction to Chinese history and material culture. Some interesting images.
April 23, 2024
Borrowed from an art teacher. Great introduction into Chinese history through art. (High school/college level.)
March 19, 2008
Very well written. Provided sufficient historical and religious context with which to interpret the art. Lots of great illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews